VMware vCenter Server - 6.0 Installation Manual
Command-Line Installation of
vCenter Server 6.0
vCenter Server 6.0
You can install VMware vCenter Server™ on a virtual machine or physical server that runs Microsoft
Windows by using either the GUI or the command-line interface.
The command-line installation process includes downloading the vCenter Server installer, gathering the
required data, and using the samples in this technical note to install vCenter Server according to your needs.
This technical note describes how to install and uninstall vCenter Server by using the command-line interface.
The technical note provides you with example templates that you can use to install vCenter Server.
Technical Note
IMPORTANT VMware support cannot assist with troubleshooting command-line installation of
vCenter Server. However, vCenter Server systems installed by using the command-line interface are fully
supported.
Overview
By using the command-line interface, you can install vCenter Server with an embedded Platform Services
Controller, vCenter Server with an external Platform Services Controller, or an external Platform Services
Controller. Before the installation, you must create a JSON file that contains the installation and configuration
parameters. You can either create a JSON file manually or generate a JSON file by running
special mode using the installation wizard.
When you create the JSON file, populate the necessary data, and start the command-line installation process,
the parameters from the JSON file are passed to the vCenter Server installer. The installer uses the
configuration parameters that you provide in the JSON file
according to your specifications. The vCenter Server installer runs minimal validation on the configuration
parameters.
vCenter Server Deployment Models
You can install vCenter Server in one of the two deployment models:
vCenter Server with an embedded Platform Services Controller
You install the Platform Services Controller and vCenter Server on the same virtual machine or physical
server.
the installer in a
and installs and configures vCenter Server
This model is standalone and you cannot use it for replication of vCenter Single Sign-On data.
vCenter Server with an external Platform Services Controller
You install the Platform Services Controller on one virtual machine or physical server and then install
vCenter Server on a different virtual machine or physical server.
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This model is suitable for larger environments. With this model, you can configure many Platform
Services Controller instances to replicate their vCenter Single Sign-On data by joining them to the same
vCenter Single Sign-On domain.
For information about the supported architecture and deployment models in vSphere 6.0, see vSphere
Installation and Setup at http://www.pubs.vmware.com.
vCenter Server Installation Requirements
You can install vCenter Server 6.0 on virtual machines or physical servers that run Windows Server 2008 SP2
and later. Your Windows Server must have the latest updates and patches installed.
vCenter Server requires a database to store and organize server data. Each vCenter Server instance must have
its own database. For environments with up to 20 hosts and 200 virtual machines, you can use the bundled
PostgreSQL database that the vCenter Server installer can install and set up for you during the vCenter Server
installation. Larger environments require a supported external database that uses a data source name (DSN).
vCenter Server supports Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server databases as external databases.
I
MPORTANT When using Microsoft SQL Server, the command-line installation supports only DSNs that use
SQL authentication. For this type of authentication, you must provide a database user name and password.
For information about the vCenter Server installation requirements and external database configuration, see
vSphere Installation and Setup at http://pubs.vmware.com.
Command-Line Installation of vCenter Server 6.0
General Installation Process
To install vCenter Server by using the command-line interface, you must download the vCenter Server ISO
installer, create the JSON configuration file, and run the command-line installation.
To install vCenter Server with an embedded or an external Platform Services Controller:
1 Download the ISO installer file for vCenter Server from the VMware product page at
http://www.vmware.com/products.
The installer ISO file name is VMware-VIMSetup-all-6.0.0-yyyyyy.iso, where yyyyyy is the build
number.
2 Mount the ISO file to your virtual machine or physical server.
3 Create the JSON configuration file for your installation specification.
a Create a JSON configuration file and save it to your workspace.
You can either create the file manually or use the command-line interface to generate the file with all
of the necessary information and configuration properties. For information, see “Create a JSON File
Manually” on page 3 and “Generate a JSON File for the Command-Line Installation by Using the
GUI” on page 4.
b Fill in the JSON configuration file with the required parameters according to your specifications.
c Save the JSON configuration file.
4 On the virtual machine or physical server where you are installing vCenter Server, open the Windows
command prompt.
5 Change the directory to the location of the installation executables.
For example, if the executables are on the D drive, run
6 (Optional) Run a preinstall check.
7 To start the vCenter Server installation, run the following command:
VMware-vCenter-Server.exe /qr CUSTOM_SETTINGS=path_to_json_file
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cd /d d:\vCenter-Server\.
Creating JSON Configuration Files
You can create a JSON file manually. You can also generate a JSON file by using the command-line installer.
You can then fill in the required parameters and start the installation.
Create a JSON File Manually
You can create a JSON file manually by using a text editor and modify the basic installation templates in
“Installation Templates” on page 3.
To create a JSON file manually:
1 Open a text editor and create a JSON file.
Command-Line Installation of vCenter Server 6.0
For example, create a JSON file at
C:\my-vCenter-Server-installation\.
2 Copy the template text and paste it in the JSON file.
3 Fill in the template with the required parameters.
4 Save and close the file.
Installation Templates
You can use the following templates to create your JSON files manually. The example templates represent
various vCenter Server installation configurations.
To install vCenter Server with an embedded Platform Services Controller and an embedded database, use
the template from Example 1.
To install vCenter Server with an external Platform Services Controller and an external database, use the
template from Example 2 for the Platform Services Controller installation and the template from
Example 3 for the vCenter Server installation.
Example 1. Installation Template for vCenter Server with an Embedded Platform Services Controller and an
Embedded Database
{
"INSTALLDIR" : "C:\\Program Files\\VMware\\",
"vmware.data.directory" : "C:\\ProgramData\\VMware\\",
"deployment.node.type" : "embedded",
"db.type" : "embedded",
"vc.svcuser" : null,
"vc.svcuserpassword" : null,
"appliance.net.pnid" : "enter_dns_fqdn_of_the_system",
"appliance.net.ports" : {
"rhttpproxy.ext.port1" : 80,
"rhttpproxy.ext.port2" : 443,
"syslog.ext.port" : 514,
"syslog.ext.tls.port" : 1514,
"netdumper.ext.serviceport" : 6500,
"autodeploy.ext.serviceport" : 6501,
"autodeploy.ext.managementport" : 6502,
"vpxd.ext.port1" : 902,
"vsphere-client.ext.port1" : 9443,
"sts.ext.port1" : 7444
},
"vmdir.first-instance" : true,
"vmdir.domain-name" : "enter_sso_domain_name",
"vmdir.password" : "enter_sso_password",
"vmdir.site-name" : "enter_sso_site_name"
}
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Command-Line Installation of vCenter Server 6.0
Example 2. Installation Template for a Platform Services Controller
{
"INSTALLDIR" : "C:\\Program Files\\VMware\\",
"vmware.data.directory" : "C:\\ProgramData\\VMware\\",
"deployment.node.type" : "infrastructure",
"appliance.net.pnid" : "enter_dns_fqdn_of_the_platform_services_controller",
"vmdir.first-instance" : true,
"vmdir.domain-name" : "enter_sso_domain_name",
"vmdir.password" : "enter_sso_password",
"vmdir.site-name" : "enter_sso_site_name",
"appliance.net.ports" : {
"rhttpproxy.ext.port1" : 80,
"rhttpproxy.ext.port2" : 443,
"syslog.ext.port" : 514,
"syslog.ext.tls.port" : 1514,
"sts.ext.port1" : 7444
}
}
Example 3. Installation Template for vCenter Server with an External Platform Services Controller and an
External Database
{
"INSTALLDIR" : "C:\\Program Files\\VMware\\",
"vmware.data.directory" : "C:\\ProgramData\\VMware\\",
"deployment.node.type" : "management",
"db.type" : "external",
"db.dsn" : "enter_vCenterServer_DSN_with_SQL_authentication",
"db.user" : "enter_vCenterServer_database_username",
"db.password" : "enter_vCenterServer_database_password",
"vc.svcuser" : null,
"vc.svcuserpassword" : null,
"appliance.net.pnid" : "enter_dns_fqdn_of_the_system",
"appliance.net.ports" : {
"rhttpproxy.ext.port1" : 80,
"rhttpproxy.ext.port2" : 443,
"syslog.ext.port" : 514,
"syslog.ext.tls.port" : 1514,
"netdumper.ext.serviceport" : 6500,
"autodeploy.ext.serviceport" : 6501,
"autodeploy.ext.managementport" : 6502,
"vpxd.ext.port1" : 902,
"vsphere-client.ext.port1" : 9443
},
"system.vm0.hostname" : "enter_dns_fqdn_of_the_platform_services_controller",
"system.vm0.port" : "enter_platform_services_controller_https_port",
"vmdir.password" : "enter_sso_password",
"vmdir.domain-name" : "enter_sso_domain_name"
}
Generate a JSON File for the Command-Line Installation by Using the GUI
You can generate a JSON file while you are installing vCenter Server by using the graphical interface, so that
you can use the JSON file in future command-line installations. You can also generate the same JSON file by
using the graphical interface without installing vCenter Server.
To generate a JSON template file that contains all the necessary parameters:
1 Download the ISO installer file for vCenter Server from the VMware product page at
http://www.vmware.com/products.
The installer ISO file name is VMware-VIMSetup-all-6.0.0-yyyyyy.iso, where yyyyyy is the build
number.
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