1. Go to the VMware Download Center.
2. Under Datacenter & Cloud Infrastructure, click VMware vSphere.
3. Find the section for the license type you purchased, such as Essentials.
4. Within that section, next to VMware vCenter Server 5.x and modules, click Download.
5. If you agree to the EULA, click Yes.
6. Download these files by clicking the appropriate blue file type on the right. :
   
   Note: The vCenter Server Appliance can be deployed by downloading either the .ova file or the .ovf and VMDK system and data disk files
   
   
   • VMware vCenter Server 5.x Appliance - OVF File
   • VMware vCenter Server 5.x Appliance - System Disk
   • VMware vCenter Server 5.x Appliance - Data Disk
   • VMware vCenter Server 5.x Appliance - OVA File
     

1. Launch the vSphere Client or vSphere Web Client.
2. Go to File > Deploy OVF Template.
3. Browse to the location of the vCenter Server Appliance downloaded .ova or the .ovf file and click Open.
4. In the OVF Template Details page, click Next.
5. In Name and Location, enter the name of your vCenter Server Appliance and click Next.
6. Select a datastore and click Next.
7. Select a disk format and click Next.
8. Click Finish.

Your vCenter Server Appliance 5.x is now deployed. For more information, see:

• Configuring the VMware vCenter Server Appliance 5.1 from the VMware vSphere 5.1 Documentation Center
• Configuring the VMware vCenter Server Appliance 5.5 from the VMware vSphere 5.5 Documentation Center
  
  

• Minimum requirements for the VMware vCenter Server 5.x Appliance (2005086)
  
• Updating the VMware vCenter Server Appliance from a zipped update bundle (2003146)
  
• Required ports for vCenter Server Appliance 5.x (2012773)
  
• Services bundled with vCenter Server Appliance (2002531)
• Upgrading vCenter Server Appliance from 5.0.x to 5.1 (2033990)