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Running vCenter Server in a virtual machine (10087)
Details
VMware supports running vCenter Server in a virtual machine. In virtual machines, vCenter Server behaves as if it were installed on a physical server.
Solution
You can install vCenter Server in a Microsoft Windows virtual machine that runs on an ESXi/ESX host.
Note: While running vCenter Server in a virtual machine under Workstation, Player, or Fusion is possible, VMware does not recommend this configuration.
Deploying vCenter Server in a virtual machine has these advantages:
Rather than dedicating a physical server to the vCenter Server application, you can install vCenter Server in a virtual machine registered to an ESXi/ESX host in the environment.
You can provide high availability for the vCenter Server system by using VMware HA.
You can migrate the virtual machine containing the vCenter Server system from one host to another, enabling maintenance and other activities.
Provides the ability to use snapshots for virtual machine-level backup utilities (such as VMware Data Recovery) and for restore points before installing update packages.
To install vCenter Server in a virtual machine:
In a standalone server, install ESXi/ESX.
On any machine that has network access to your ESXi/ESX host, install the vSphere Client.
Using the vSphere Client, access the ESXi/ESX host directly to create the virtual machine for hosting vCenter Server.
For more information on the advantages of deploying the vCenter Server system in a virtual machine, see the Install vCenter Server in a Virtual Machine section of the VMware ESXi/ESX and vCenter Server Installation Guide.
