vSphere 6.7

VMware VCSA 6.7 New Features Installation and Configuration

A look at VMware vSphere VCSA 6.7 New Features Installation and Configuration with a walkthrough of the installation process of a new VCSA 6.7 appliance.

The new VMware vSphere vCenter Server 6.7 dropped yesterday as GA and installation files are readily available for download now. We have already talked a bit about vSAN 6.7.ย  This is certainly an exciting release for VMware and customers! The all new vCenter Server appliance or VCSA is showing itself as being a mature, performant, stable, and powerful platform for running vCenter Server in production. In fact this is the VERY last release of the Windows Server based vCenter Server platform. This release of the all new VCSA 6.7 is packed full of really great features and functionality that will make the administrator’s life much easier. Let’s take a look at VMware VCSA 6.7 New Features Installation and Configuration as well as look at the new features that are contained in this exciting release.

VMware VCSA 6.7 New Features Installation and Configuration

As mentioned with this release it is chocked full of goodies. Below is a listing of some of the most prominent features that administrators will want to take note of.

  • The new HTML5 clarity UI is getting VERY close to completion with vCenter Server 6.7.
  • An all new file based backup scheduler with the built in backup for vCenter Server 6.7
  • vCenter Server 6.7 architecture has been simplified
  • The VAMI interface is now sporting the Clarity HTML5 UI interface as well as upgrades in monitoring and a new disks view to view the specific partions, disk space, etc.
  • CLI upgrades in 6.7 include the return of the cmsso-util. This allows for repointing an external vCenter Server appliance across SSO sites within a vSphere SSO domain as well as across vSphere SSO domains.ย  Additionally, the vCenter Server Appliance ISO comes with JSON template examples. These JSON templates are a way to ensure consistency across installs, upgrades, and migrations.

VCSA 6.7 – New HTML5 Clarity Interface

VMware is touting they are almost there with the complete deprecation of the “Flex” flash client.ย  Great news!ย  We all love to hate the flash based client with the sluggishness and frequent crashes, etc.ย  However, the newly designed HTML5 interface is a pleasure to work with and is extremely performant.ย  It is said to be aroundย 95% complete at this point and with the new features found in the HTML5 vCenter Server 6.7 release we can see the progress that is being made for sure.ย  Included functionality in the new HTML5 client in vCenter Server 6.7:

New-HTML5-client-is-displayed-predominantly-with-vCenter-Server-6.7
New HTML5 client is displayed predominantly with vCenter Server 6.7

Additionally, the new VAMI interface with the new vCenter Server 6.7 is running on the HTML5 Clarity interface as well.ย  Major improvements all the way around with the new interface in vCenter Server 6.7.

New-HTML5-Clarity-Interface-login-screen-for-vCenter-Server-6.7
New HTML5 Clarity Interface login screen for vCenter Server 6.7

VCSA 6.7 Now Includes a Backup Scheduler

Let’s face it, we all loved the fact there was a file based backup mechanism in vCenter Server 6.5, however, we hated the fact there was not a built-in scheduler to actually schedule the backups.ย  Well, the wait is over now with vCenter Server 6.7, you can now schedule your backups for vCenter Server.

New-Backup-Scheduler-is-available-in-vCenter-Server-6.7
New Backup Scheduler is available in vCenter Server 6.7
Schedule-vCenter-Server-6.7-Backups
Schedule vCenter Server 6.7 Backups

VCSA 6.7 Improved Architecture

In the vSphere 6.7 release, we now have the option for vCenter Server with Embedded PSC with Enhanced Linked Mode. This brings tremendous benefits:

  • High availability no longer requires a load balancer and fully supports native vCenter Server High Availability.
  • SSO Site boundaries have been removed which provides flexibility of placement.
  • Supports vSphere scale maximums.
  • 15 deployments allowed in a vSphere Single Sign-On Domain.
  • Node management and maintenance is reduced

VCSA 6.7 New CLI Tools

New utilities at the command line level such as theย cmsso-util command line utility allow manipulation of the vCenter SSO domain pointing across and within SSO domains.ย  Additionally, the vCenter Server Appliance ISO comes with JSON template examples. These JSON templates are a way to ensure consistency across installs, upgrades, and migrations.

New-CMSSO-UTIL-CLI-utility-allows-repointing-vCenter-appliance-across-SSO-domains
New CMSSO-UTIL CLI utility allows repointing vCenter appliance across SSO domains

VMware VCSA 6.7 Installation and Configuration

VMware has kept with the very well received ISOย installer.exe utility for deploying, upgrading, etc a new appliance.ย  The installer is a 2-stage process that contains the following stages:

  • Deploy the VCSA 6.7 appliance
  • Set up the VCSA 6.7 appliance
Mount-the-VCSA-6.7-ISO-and-run-the-installer.exe-utility-to-deploy-the-appliance
Mount the VCSA 6.7 ISO and run the installer.exe utility to deploy the appliance

Here since we are deploying a brand new appliance, we chooseย Install.

Choose-the-Install-Option-to-install-a-new-VCSA-6.7-appliance
Choose the Install Option to install a new VCSA 6.7 appliance

The installer gives an overview of the installation process with the 2 stages involved.

Introduction-to-the-2-stage-process-to-deploy-the-VCSA-6.7-appliance
Introduction to the 2 stage process to deploy the VCSA 6.7 appliance

Accept the EULA.

Accept-the-EULA-for-the-VCSA-6.7-appliance-install
Accept the EULA for the VCSA 6.7 appliance install

Select the deployment type – the choices are:

  • Embedded Platform Services Controller
  • External Platform Services Controller
Select-the-deployment-type-for-VCSA-6.7
Select the deployment type for VCSA 6.7

Next, we need to give the installer a target for deploying the appliance – either vCenter Server or an ESXi host.ย  I am deploying the new appliance into an existing vCenter 6.5 U2 server.

Select-the-Appliance-Deployment-Target-for-VCSA-6.7
Select the Appliance Deployment Target for VCSA 6.7

Accept the certificate warning presented from the vCenter Server.

Accept-the-certificate-warning
Accept the certificate warning

Choose the vCenter folder you want to deploy into.

Select-the-folder-in-vCenter-to-deploy-the-new-VCSA-6.7-appliance
Select the folder in vCenter to deploy the new VCSA 6.7 appliance

Select the computer resource – either a host or cluster.

Select-the-compute-resource-for-the-new-VCSA-6.7-appliance
Select the compute resource for the new VCSA 6.7 appliance

Name the vCenter appliance (what you want it to be called in the vSphere inventory) and also set the root password.

Name-the-VCSA-6.7-appliance-and-set-a-root-password
Name the VCSA 6.7 appliance and set a root password

Select the deployment size.ย  The installer gives a great overview of the size comparisons.

Select-the-deployment-size
Select the deployment size

Select the target storage for the appliance deployment.

Select-the-target-datastore-for-the-VCSA-6.7-appliance
Select the target datastore for the VCSA 6.7 appliance

Configure the appliance networking.ย  As has been the case with previous releases, make sure you have DNS configured correctly along with an A record for the new VCSA 6.7 appliance.

Configure-the-VCSA-6.7-appliance-network-settings
Configure the VCSA 6.7 appliance network settings

A summary of the configuration is displayed and you are ready to clickย Finish to begin Stage 1 configuration.

Summary-and-ready-to-complete-stage-1-of-VCSA-6.7-deployment
Summary and ready to complete stage 1 of VCSA 6.7 deployment

Stage 1 configuration begins.

Stage-1-installation-begins-for-VCSA-6.7-appliance
Stage 1 installation begins for VCSA 6.7 appliance

Stage 1 configuration completes successfully.ย  Hitย Continue to move on to Stage 2 Setup.

Stage-1-of-the-installation-completes
Stage 1 of the installation completes

Stage 2 configuration begins.

Stage-2-of-the-VCSA-6.7-setup-begins
Stage 2 of the VCSA 6.7 setup begins

On the first screen of the Stage 2 configuration we setup NTP configuration as well as choose SSH access options.

Setup-NTP-and-SSH-access
Setup NTP and SSH access

Extremely important, configuring your SSO domain.ย  Here we either setup something new or join an existing SSO domain.

SSO-Configuration-for-the-new-VCSA-6.7-appliance
SSO Configuration for the new VCSA 6.7 appliance

CEIP choices…

Opt-in-or-out-of-the-CEIP-program
Opt in or out of the CEIP program

Stage 2 configuration is now ready to complete.

Summary-of-Stage-2-configuration
Summary of Stage 2 configuration

A warning is presented about not being able to pause or stop the installation once it is started.

Warning-about-stopping-the-install
Warning about stopping the install

Stage 2 setup begins configuring the appliance with the selected options.

Stage-2-configuration-begins
Stage 2 configuration begins

Stage 2 completes successfully. A link to the new vCenter appliance web client is displayed on the Complete screen.

Stage-2-configuration-of-the-VCSA-6.7-appliance-completes
Stage 2 configuration of the VCSA 6.7 appliance completes

Takeaways

VMware vSphere VCSA 6.7 New Features Installation and Configuration contains some exciting new features that administrators will be able to take advantage of in their vSphere environments with vSphere 6.7.ย  VMware has definitely covered some ground in getting the UI updated to the new HTML5 UI clarity theme both in the web client as well as the VAMI interface.ย  The new options in the VAMI interface for monitoring and other upgrades to the backup utility including scheduling is making this a powerful interface for managing and monitoring vCenter Server 6.7.ย  Stay tuned for more vSphere 6.7 coverage here as we continue to show upgrades, installs, etc.

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Brandon Lee

Brandon Lee is the Senior Writer, Engineer and owner at Virtualizationhowto.com, and a 7-time VMware vExpert, with over two decades of experience in Information Technology. Having worked for numerous Fortune 500 companies as well as in various industries, He has extensive experience in various IT segments and is a strong advocate for open source technologies. Brandon holds many industry certifications, loves the outdoors and spending time with family. Also, he goes through the effort of testing and troubleshooting issues, so you don't have to.

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