vServer Appliance – install

Download the latest ISO file from VMware website. As of Sept 2019 the latest version is vServer 6.7.0 and the correct file: VMware-VCSA-all-6.7.0-8217866.iso

After you got the file we’ll use Windows to install it. Right click on the file and choose “Mount”.

  • Go to VMware VCSA -> vcsa-ui-installer -> installer.exe
  • When the new window opens up, choose the option that fit your needs, in this case I’ll choose “Install”, but you can do: Upgrade, Migrate or Restore.
  • Next, you will have two stages, first is the Deploy stage and the second is Set Up appliance. Let’s start with the first stage, click on Next.
  • Click the box to Accept User agreement and Next.
  • Next option, select deployment type. Choose the first option “Embedded Platform Services Controller -> vCenter Server with Enbedded Platform Services Controller”
  • For the next step, you need the IP/Name of your ESXi server that you installed in Step 1. Also you will need the administrator user name and password. Click Next when you’re done.
  • It’s possible to get a warning about SSL certificate, just click Yes to accept the certificate.
  • Next step, choose a name for your VM and also choose the password for the administrator user (root). Click Next.
  • Next step is to choose Deployment size. Depending of your Infrastructure choose the right option for you needs. The predefined options: Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large. In my case, this will be a testing environment and not that many VM will be installed, I’ve choose the Tiny size.
  • Next step is for selecting the storage disk. In my case I have only one available disk, but you have more disks, choose the correct one. If you click on “Enable Thin Disk Mode” this mode will not pre-allocate all the space specified for the disk, it saves space by allocating only blocks backed by physical storage when they are written.
  • Next step is to configure network settings. Have your IP addresses ready if you plan to run on static IPs.
  • Last page is the confirmation page. Click on finish.
  • It will start the installation, just relax will take some time.
  • Still not done, but close to finish.
  • Once is done, the next window will give you the option to go stage two and setup the appliance or just close the window and will setup later.
  • If you look at ESXi server, you will see that the new VM is created and running.
  • Let’s start with Stage 2, click on Next.
  • First window is for time synchronization with ESXi server and SSH access enable/disable. Make your choice and click Next.
  • Next step is to create a new domain and choose the administrator password for that domain. Choose the name and password then click Next.
  • Next step is to choose if you want to participate in Customer Experience Improvement Program. Click Next and you made your choice.
  • Last page is the confirmation, click on Finish if all the info are correct.
  • A popup window warning will show up, just click on OK.
  • And the Stage 2 just started, again will take some time.
  • After is done, you will see the confirmation with address where you can login into the VCSA server.You can save it, but the same address you can see it on ESXi server when you click on the running VM.
  • First time login into the web interface you will see this page.
  • My personal preference is “VSphere Client (HTML5). Click on that and it will open another page for login (you’ll need the user/password that you choose during the Stage 2 setup)
  • If you are using an evaluation copy, when you login the first time you’ll see the warning about Expiring license.
  • Click on Manage you licenses and Enter your personal license key.
  • Enter your keys and you’ll see the page with Licenses (type of license and expiration dates)
  • The keys were added but still not assigned. When you click on “Licenses -> Assets” will show only the Evaluation Key is assigned. Click on Assign License.
  • Check the License that was just added and un-check the Evaluation License, then click OK.
  • If you go back to the main menu, you will see the warning about the keys is gone (this will be gone if you have an active key). Now you can start the next step: Adding a new Virtual Machine. Check out the next page.