Virtualization has revolutionized IT infrastructure. VMware is the leading virtualization solution and vCenter Server stands at the heart of managing it. Whether you're a seasoned administrator or new to virtualization, this guide walks you through everything you need to know about vCenter Server, from its core features to installation, backup, and troubleshooting. Let’s dive in.
What is VMware vCenter Server?
VMware vCenter Server is the centralized management hub for VMware vSphere environments. It allows administrators to efficiently manage multiple ESXi hosts, clusters, and thousands of virtual machines (VMs) from a single interface. Think of it as the "control panel" for your virtual infrastructure.
Key Features:
Centralized Management: Control ESXi hosts, VMs, networks, and storage across your environment.
Resource Optimization: Pool compute, storage, and network resources for dynamic allocation.
High Availability: Automatically restart VMs on healthy hosts during failures.
vMotion: Migrate running VMs between hosts without downtime.
Lifecycle Management: Streamline patching and upgrades with vSphere Lifecycle Manager.
Enhanced Security: Integrate with Active Directory and enforce role-based access control.
It provides comprehensive features that other virtualization solutions don’t provide simultaneously, like workload balancing, disaster recovery, and automated provisioning, makes it indispensable for enterprises aiming to maximize efficiency and minimize downtime. Tha’t one of the reasons why companies often choose it.
Preparation Before Installation
Before deploying vCenter Server, ensure your environment meets these requirements:
Hardware Requirements
| Environment Size | Hosts/VMs | vCPUs | Memory | Storage (Default) |
| Tiny | ≤10/≤100 | 2 | 14 GB | 579 GB |
| Small | ≤100/≤1k | 4 | 21 GB | 694 GB |
| Medium | ≤400/≤4k | 8 | 30 GB | 908 GB |
| Large | ≤1k/≤10k | 16 | 39 GB | 1358 GB |
| X-Large | ≤2k/≤35k | 24 | 58 GB | 2283 GB |
Software & Network Prerequisites:
ESXi Host: Version 6.7 or later.
DNS: Forward/reverse records for the vCenter FQDN.
NTP Synchronization: Ensure all hosts and vCenter use the same time source.
Ports: Open required ports (e.g., 443 for HTTPS, 902 for host management).
Pro Tip: Use static IP addresses for vCenter to avoid DNS issues post-installation.
Usually, vCenter Server is installed on an ESXi VM, and there are two ways to install it, using he GUI or using CLI.
How to install VMware vCenter Server via GUI?
This methods will guide you to install vCenter with the Installer.exe step by step.
Stage 1 Deploy the OVA File
1. Download VMware vCenter Server Appliance ISO from Broadcom Support
2. Mount the ISO File in operating system
3. Open the mounted ISO folder and navigate to vcsa-ui-installer
4. Click Install.exe and then select Install to start
5. Read the EULA > check I accept the terms > click Next
6. Set VM Name and Root Password > click Next
7. Select Deployment Size > click Next
8. Select a datastore > Enable Thin Disk Mode > click Next
9. Select IPv4 > enter IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Gateway > rnter the FQDN > click Next
10. Review settings > click Finish to deploy the OVA
Stage 2. Initialize vCenter Services
1 After Stage 1 completes > click Continue
2 Select Synchronize time with NTP servers > enter NTP servers > click Next
3 Configure SSO domain by entering a domain name and set a password > click Next
4 Uncheck Join CEIP > click Next
5 Click Finish
After installation, access the vSphere Client at https://vcenter.example.com/ui.
How to install VMware vCenter Server via CLI?
Installing vCenter via CLI is more automatic, but you should make sure the configuration is right.
1. Copy the template from the ISO
cp /mnt/vcsa/vcsa-cli-installer/templates/install/embedded_vCSA_on_ESXi.json ~/config.json
2. Edit config.json with your details
{
"new_vcsa": {
"esxi": {
"hostname": "192.168.1.50",
"username": "root",
"password": "ESXi-Password",
"datastore": "datastore1"
},
"appliance": {
"deployment_option": "small",
"name": "vCenter-CLI"
},
"network": {
"ip_family": "ipv4",
"mode": "static",
"ip": "192.168.1.101",
"prefix": "24",
"gateway": "192.168.1.1",
"dns_servers": ["8.8.8.8"]
},
"os": {
"password": "Root-Password",
"ntp_servers": ["pool.ntp.org"]
},
"sso": {
"password": "Admin@123",
"domain_name": "vsphere.local"
}
}
}3. Run the CLI Installer
cd /mnt/vcsa/vcsa-cli-installer/lin64
./vcsa-deploy install ~/config.json --accept-eula --acknowledge-ceip
4. Log in to vSphere Client in a brower at https://vcenter.example.com/ui with username administrator@vsphere.local and password
5. Go to Menu > Hosts and Clusters > right-click Datacenter > add Host
6. Enter the ESXi host’s IP, root username, and password > click Next to complete.
How to backup and restore vCenter Server?
Although some IT admins don’t think it is necessary, if you want to backup vCenter, the following steps:
1. Navigate to https://<vCenter-IP>:5480
2. Select Backup
3. Schedule backups to FTP/SFTP/NFS with encryption
4. Include "Stats, Events, Tasks" for comprehensive recovery
When it is needed to recovery it, you can try the steps bellow,
1. Deploy a new vCenter appliance using the installer’s Restore option.
2. Point to the backup location and validate SSO credentials.
How to protect VMware virtual machine in vCenter?
The basic data protection method is exporting VM from vCenter. It may work in a homelab but for the companies’ production VMs, you need a professional solution.
Vinchin Backup & Recovery is a professional solution for VM protection for various mainstream virtual machines like VMware, Hyper-V, Proxmox, oVirt, OLVM, XCP-ng, XenServer, etc. It is simple to use and provides many useful advanced features like instant restore, LAN-free backup, DR Lab, V2V migration, etc. to help you easily manage and protect virtual environment.
Let’s see how to create a job for VMware backup in 4 steps:
1. Select the VMs you want to backup
2. Select storage to store backup
3. Select strategies
4. Submit the job
Vinchin has been in the field of VM backup for 10 years, and gained reputations from all over the world. You can also try this professional software with a 60-day full-featured free trial. Just click the button bellow to get the installation package.
vCenter deployment FAQs
1. What to do if the installation fails with Certificate validation error?
You can verify SSL certificates on ESXi hosts or use --no-ssl-certificate-verification in CLI.
2. What if vCenter services won’t start after restore?
You should ensure the restored VM’s IP matches the backup’s original IP.
3. How to solve DNS resolution failures?
You should update /etc/hosts with vCenter and ESXi entries as a temporary workaround.
Conclusion
VMware vCenter Server is the backbone of efficient virtualization management. By following best practices for installation, backup, and troubleshooting, you ensure a resilient and scalable environment. Whether automating deployments via CLI or leveraging HA for uptime, vCenter empowers IT teams to focus on innovation—not infrastructure chaos.
