Stuff about vCenter Configuration Manager [5.7] (3/3)

This is the last part of this series of posts about VMware vCenter Configuration Manager.

• Part 1
• Part 2

For more information about VMware vCenter Configuration Manager, check documentation.

Reports

• Powerful reporting engine.
• By creating a report there is the options to look at the SQL statement.
• Types of report
  • Report form wizard
  • SQL Report
  • Imported SQL Server Reporting Service report
• A important feature is the possibility to export data, so you can use Excel or SQL Server Reporting Services to build according to you CI.

Security

• There are these roles: Machine Groups, Access Rules, Logins.
• Access is based on access rules and roles. There are basic (for access of applications respectively collected data) and administrative rules (for access to administrative functionality).
• A Login (comes from AD) can be assigned to a security role.
• Change Restricted role is like a “read-only” Admin role. So it can collect data, run reports, … but can’t change stuff.

Customizing and Managing vCM

• Filter Sets are combined filters. A filter set can be Machine Based Filter Set or a Active Directory Filter Set.
• There are pre-defined filters for LAN-, Dialup and Broadband connections (General Settings –> VCM Remote). But when there is too much data to collect across a small link, think about installing collectors at remote site.
• Take care about change settings for SQL performance!
• When changing SQL database name or server name, change the SQL side first.
• Show/change default directories at Administration –> Settings –> General Settings –> VCM Input/Output Directories.
• When for security reasons on windows machines Admin$ is removed, you have to create an alternative share or install the agent manually.
• You can choose different retention settings for different type of data.
• Debuging tool: EcmDebugEventViewer in  c:\Program Files\VMware\VCM\Tools.
• Use backup guide to configure backup for vCM.

(last but not least) Installing vCM

• Components of vCM Server
  • Installation Mananger
  • vCM Collector
    • Collector Service
    • IIS
    • SQL Server
    • SQL Server Reporting Services
• Typical Installation
  • single-tier: everything on one machine
  • two-tier architecture without Kerberos authentication. Keeps SQL Services on a dedicated machine.
• Advanced Installation
  • three-tier architecture. Keeps SQL, IIS and Collector Services on different machines.
  • two-tier architecture with Kerberos authentication. Check installation guide for more details on Kerberos authentication.
  • vCM upgrade
• On multi-tier installations check firewall settings
• SQL Cluster is supported, SQL Mirroring is not supported!
• Authentication types
  • Windows authentication or Kerberos
• For sizing considerations check installation guide.
• Requirements for vCM Server
  • Install OS (Windows Server 2008 R2)
  • Disable RDS host
  • Join domain
  • Add AD user for vCM to local administrators
  • Install as vCM administrator
• During foundation checker, SQLXML seems to fail always.