Planning Guide

Dell EMC VxRail vCenter Server Planning

Guide
Abstract
This planning document provides guidance for various vCenter Server
deployment options that are supported on VxRail appliances.

January 2020

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Table of contents
1 vCenter Server ....................................................................................................................................................5
1.1 vCenter Server with an Embedded PSC ..................................................................................................5
1.2 vCenter Server with an External PSC .......................................................................................................5
2 VxRail Appliances ...............................................................................................................................................6
2.1 VxRail vCenter Server Options .................................................................................................................6
2.2 VxRail vCenter Server ..............................................................................................................................7
2.3 Customer-Supplied vCenter Server ..........................................................................................................8
3 VMware vSphere Recommended Topologies for vCenter Server ...................................................................10
4 VxRail vCenter Server Deployment Details ......................................................................................................13
4.1 VxRail vCenter Server ............................................................................................................................13
4.2 Customer-Supplied vCenter Server ........................................................................................................13
5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................................15

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Executive summary
vCenter Server is the centralized platform for managing a VMware environment. It is the primary point of
management for both server virtualization and vSAN. It is also the enabling technology for advanced
capabilities such as vMotion, Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS), and HA. vCenter scales to enterprise
levels where a single vCenter can support up to 1,000 hosts (VxRail nodes) and 10,000 virtual machines.
vCenter supports a logical hierarchy of data centers, clusters, and hosts, which allow resources to be
segregated by use cases or lines of business and allow resources to be moved as needed dynamically.
These resource changes are all done from a single interface.

Intended Use and Audience

This guide discusses various VMware vCenter Server™ deployment scenarios that are supported to
manage your VxRail clusters. It is intended for customers, Dell EMC Sales teams, and field engineers
involved in selling, planning and installing VxRail, including Dell EMC Sales and support personnel.

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1 vCenter Server
vSphere v6.0 introduced vCenter Server with embedded Platform Services Controller (PSC) and vCenter
Server with an external PSC. The following components are included in the vCenter Server installations:
• The PSC group of infrastructure services contains vCenter Single Sign-On, License service,
Lookup service, and VMware Certificate Authority.
• The vCenter Server group of services contains vCenter Server, vSphere Web Client, Inventory
Service, vSphere Auto Deploy, vSphere ESXi Dump Collector, VMware vSphere Syslog Collector
on Windows and VMware Sphere Syslog Service for the vCenter Server appliance.

1.1 vCenter Server with an Embedded PSC

The vCenter Server and the PSC are deployed on a single

virtual machine or physical server.

1.2 vCenter Server with an External PSC

The vCenter Server and the PSC are deployed as separate virtual
machines or physical servers. The PSC can be shared across
several vCenter Server instances. You can install a PSC and then
install several vCenter Server instances and register them with the
PSC. You can then install another PSC, configure it to replicate
data with the first PSC, and then install vCenter Server instances
and register them with the second PSC.

For details, see the following:

• vCenter Server Installation and Setup for VxRail 4.7.0+
• vSphere Installation and Setup Guide VMware vSphere 6.5 for VxRail 4.5.0+
• vSphere Installation and Setup Guide Update 2 VMware vSphere 6.0 for VxRail 3.5 and VxRail 4.0.x

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2 VxRail Appliances
VxRail is jointly developed by Dell EMC and VMware and is the only fully integrated, preconfigured, and
tested HCI appliance that is powered by VMware Virtual SAN (vSAN). VxRail is managed through the
vCenter Server interface. It provides a familiar vSphere experience that enables streamlined
deployment and the ability to extend the use of existing IT tools and processes.
VxRail appliances are managed using VxRail Manager software for hardware and appliance
maintenance tasks as well as software life cycle management. VxRail Manager incorporates Secure
Remote Services (SRS) and other serviceability capabilities. Additionally, VxRail appliances are
discoverable and visible in Dell EMC Vision™ Intelligent Operations.

Note: For day-to-day VM management, you manage the VMware stack on the VxRail
appliance directly through vCenter server.

The VxRail software bundle is preloaded and licensed onto hardware and consists of the following
components (specific software versions not shown):
• VxRail Manager
• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vRealize Log Insight™1
• VMware vSAN™
• Dell Secure Remote Services (SRS)/VE
Also preloaded is VMware vSphere®; however, licenses are required and can be purchased through
Dell EMC, VMware, or your preferred VMware reseller partner.
The VxRail clusters also include licenses for software that can be downloaded, installed, and configured:
• Dell EMC RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines (RP4VM) - 15 full licenses per G-series appliance
chassis or 5 full licenses per all other single node VxRail series appliances
VxRail is fully compatible with other software in the VMware ecosystem, including VMware NSX.
See the VMware Product Interoperability Matrices for specific versions of NSX supported on
specific versions of vSphere.

2.1 VxRail vCenter Server Options

The initial releases of VxRail deployed a vCenter Server appliance on the VxRail appliance. The license
for this vCenter Server appliance was included with VxRail. This vCenter Server deployment has been
referred to as “internal” vCenter Server or “embedded” vCenter Server. For consistency, the term that is
used throughout this guide is VxRail vCenter Server. VxRail orchestrates the deployment and life cycle
management of the VxRail vCenter Server. This VxRail vCenter Server can only manage the VxRail
cluster on which it is deployed.
Beginning with release 3.5, a VxRail appliance can optionally join a compatible vCenter Server
environment, hosted outside of the VxRail cluster. This feature allows for a central vCenter Server
instance to manage multiple VxRail clusters. Each VxRail environment appears within vCenter Server
as a cluster of hosts configured with a vSAN datastore. This environment has been referred to
“external” vCenter Server or “existing” vCenter Server. For consistency, the term that is used
throughout this guide is customer-supplied vCenter Server. This instance of vCenter Server must exist
before you deploy the VxRail appliance and requires a separate customer provided license. You are
responsible for deployment, configuration, and life cycle management of the customer-supplied vCenter
Server.

1
Log Insight is a configuration option only if VxRail vCenter Server is used.

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The virtual infrastructure of a VxRail cluster is managed by a single vCenter Server instance, either
VxRail vCenter Server or customer-supplied vCenter Server. When a VxRail appliance is deployed, the
vCenter deployment type is selected and is difficult to change. Making a change, for VxRail 3.5 and
4.0.1, requires a factory reset and all data to be wiped from the VxRail appliance and reinstalled.
Migrating a VxRail 4.0.2 vCenter Server to a customer-supplied vCenter requires a Request for Product
Qualification (RPQ). Starting with VxRail 4.0.301 your Dell EMC service team can perform this
procedure.

Notes:

• The customer-supplied vCenter Server provides more configuration options and is recommended.
• The virtual machine name and IP address of the customer-supplied vCenter Server and PSC cannot
be modified after VxRail deployment.

2.2 VxRail vCenter Server

As part of a VxRail deployment, a vCenter Server instance with an external PSC is configured. The
vCenter Server and the PSC are separate Linux-based virtual machines. Both the VxRail vCenter
Server and PSC are deployed on the VxRail appliance cluster it is managing and cannot be moved off
the cluster after deployment.
The VxRail vCenter license is for the VxRail vCenter Server and is not transferable to be used for a
customer-supplied vCenter Server. As such, it can be considered a limited or restricted use vCenter
Server license.

2.2.1 Use Cases

A VxRail vCenter Server is an ideal choice for:

• Small configurations
• Standalone environments

2.2.2 Limitations
• The VxRail vCenter Server only manages its own VxRail cluster.
▪ It cannot manage other VxRail clusters or any other ESXi hosts.
▪ It cannot be used as a customer-supplied vCenter Server.
• Enhanced link mode is not supported.
• Single Sign-On domain cannot be customized and will be vsphere.local.

VxRail vCenter Server does NOT support encryption in VxRail versions earlier than 4.5.200.

With stretched clusters, if an Inter-Switch Link (ISL) failure occurs, all virtual machines that are not on the
same site as the vCenter are powered off. Thus, special attention is needed when planning to deploy an
internal vCenter.

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2.3 Customer-Supplied vCenter Server

The following figure shows an example where multiple VxRail clusters are part of a customer-supplied
vCenter environment. Each cluster appears as a separate cluster within vCenter. In addition to
centralized management, being part of the same vCenter environment allows VMs to be easily migrated
into and between vSAN environments for optimal workload balance and simplifies VxRail appliance
upgrades and expansion.

Note: The customer-supplied vCenter Server deployment can be a physical server or a

virtual server running on a vCenter Server appliance.

2.3.1 Use Cases

A customer-supplied vCenter Server solution is required when:

• Enhanced link mode is desired.

• VxRail is being added to an existing VMware platform, and a single management instance is
desired.
• Multiple VxRail clusters are deployed, and a single management interface is desired.
• vCenter Server cannot be deployed on the 2-Node cluster.

Before VxRail 4.5.200, customer-supplied vCenter Server solution is required when:

• Stretched clusters are part of the solution.

• vSAN encryption is desired. When enabling Data at Rest Encryption (DARE) in a vSAN cluster,
the Key Management Server (KMS) must be external to the vSAN cluster.

2.3.2 Limitations
• VxRail Manager does not upgrade the customer-supplied vCenter Server. Before an upgrade of
VxRail appliance software, see the release notes to verify the required vCenter Server release
number. It might be necessary to upgrade the customer-supplied vCenter Server before the VxRail
upgrade.

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• Special approval is required if the customer-supplied vCenter Server is hosted on a VxRail cluster
running versions earlier than 4.7.
▪ The VxRail cluster Shutdown function requires you to power off all VMs manually. We highly
recommend the vCenter be backed up to a remote site if there is a vSAN failure.

Notes

• You are responsible for the customer-supplied vCenter Server license.

• Log Insight is not activated when using a customer-supplied vCenter Server.
• Only one public IP address for the vCenter HA network is supported.

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3 VMware vSphere Recommended Topologies for vCenter

Server
VMware provides a list of recommended topologies for VMware vCenter Server deployments. The vCenter
Server topologies are described in VMware KB article 2147672 for vSphere 6.5 and VMware KB article
2108548 for vSphere 6.0. The following table indicates whether a VxRail vCenter Server or a customer-
supplied vCenter Server could support a particular topology.

Recommended Topology VxRail vCenter Customer-Supplied

Server vCenter Server
* requires a vCenter
Server license

1 Single sign-on domain No Yes

1 Single sign-on site
1 vCenter Server with embedded If you want an You must have a
PSC embedded PSC, customer-supplied
you cannot use vCenter Server with an
the VxRail vCenter embedded PSC
Server. deployed to achieve
Limitations:
• Does not support enhanced linked mode this topology.
• Does not support PSC replication

1 Single sign-on domain Yes Yes

1 Single sign-on site
Note: There is
1 vCenter Server with PSC
only one vCenter
on a different machine
Server.

No Yes

1 Single sign-on domain

1 Single sign-on site
More than 1 vCenter Servers with PSC on a different machine

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No Yes

1 Single sign-on domain

2 or more single sign-on sites
2 or more vCenter Server with external PSCs

No Yes

1 Single sign-on domain

1 Single sign-on site
2 or more external PSCs
1 or more vCenter Server with external PSCs using 1 third-party
load balancer

No Yes

1 Single sign-on domain

2 Single sign-on sites
1 or more external PSCs per single sign-on site
1 or more vCenter Server with external PSCs
2 third-party load balancers (1 per site)

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No Yes

1 Single sign-on domain

2 Single sign-on sites
2 or more external PSCs per single sign-on site
1 or more vCenter Server with external PSCs

Note: Only one public

No IP address for the
vCenter HA network is
supported.

1 Single sign-on domain

1 Single sign-on site
vCenter Server with PSC on same vCenter Server appliance
3 vCenter Server appliances are used (1 Active, 1 Passive, and 1
Witness connected to the vCenter HA network).

Limitations:
• Does not support Enhanced Linked mode
• Does not support PSC replication

Note: Only one public

No IP address for the
vCenter HA network is
supported.

1 Single sign-on domain 1

Single sign-on site
2 or more external PSCs
vCenter Server connected to PSC using 1 third-party load balancer
vCenter Server appliances are used (1 Active, 1 Passive, and 1
Witness connected to the vCenter HA network).

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4 VxRail vCenter Server Deployment Details

Following are the high-level details of each deployment option. It is important to understand the
pre-requisites before deployment. This document covers the requirements that are related to vCenter
Server only. See the Dell EMC VxRail Network Guide for complete VxRail implementation requirements.

4.1 VxRail vCenter Server

Note: The vCenter license that is included with the VxRail appliance is for use of the VxRail vCenter Server
only. It is not transferable for use as a customer-supplied vCenter Server.

4.1.1 Requirements
This scenario requires:
• A reserved vCenter Server hostname

• A reserved IP address for the VxRail vCenter Server

• A reserved PSC hostname

• A reserved IP address for the new VxRail vCenter Server Platform Service Controller

• DNS names to be configured correctly

4.2 Customer-Supplied vCenter Server

When deploying a VxRail appliance into an existing VMware virtualization infrastructure, use the
customer-supplied vCenter Server that is managing the current environment to also manage the VxRail
appliance. This allows a remote central vCenter Server to manage multiple VxRail clusters in a single
management instance.
The customer-supplied vCenter Server can be:

• Standalone with an embedded PSC or external PSC

• A vCenter Server appliance virtual machine or vCenter Server for Windows2
• Using Enhanced Linked Mode

4.2.1 Requirements
• In versions earlier than VxRail 4.5.200, the customer-supplied vCenter can NOT be hosted on the
VxRail cluster it is managing.

• Starting with VxRail 4.5.200, the customer-supplied vCenter Server can be hosted on the VxRail
cluster it is managing, except for 2-node clusters. You must shut down the vCenter Server in order to
use the shutdown cluster feature.
• Check the VxRail Release Notes to determine the proper version numbers. The ESXi version hosting
the vCSA should be running version 6.0 or later.
2
Starting after vCenter Server 6.5, VMware plans to deprecate vCenter Server for Windows with the next numbered release (not update release) of
vSphere.

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▪ VxRail 3.5 and vSphere 6.0 VxRail Appliance Software 3.5 Release Notes
▪ VxRail 4.0.x and vSphere 6.0 VxRail Appliance Software 4.0.x Release Notes
▪ VxRail 4.5.x and vSphere 6.5 VxRail Appliance Software 4.5.x Release Notes
▪ VxRail 4.7.x and vSphere 6.7 VxRail Appliance Software 4.7.x Release Notes

• You must provide the vCenter Server license.

If you want VxRail to join a customer-supplied vCenter Server, you will need to:

• Know the customer-supplied vCenter Server FQDN.

• Know whether your customer-supplied vCenter Server has an embedded or nonembedded PSC. If
the PSC is nonembedded, you will need the PSC FQDN.
• Know the Existing Single Sign-On domain (SSO) (for example, vsphere.local).

• Create a VxRail management user and password for this VxRail cluster on the customer-supplied
vCenter Server. This user must be:
▪ Created with no permissions
▪ Created with no roles assigned to it

Note: If a previous VxRail cluster has been deployed on the customer-supplied vCenter Server, the VxRail
Management User can be reused if you so choose.

• Create or select a data center on the customer-supplied vCenter Server for the VxRail cluster to join.

• Specify the name of the cluster that is created by VxRail in the selected data center when the cluster
is built. This is also the name of the distributed switch. This name must be unique and not used
anywhere in the data center on the customer-supplied vCenter Server.
• Verify that the DNS server can resolve all VxRail ESXi hostnames before deployment.

• (Optional) Create a VxRail non-admin user and password for VxRail on the customer-supplied
vCenter Server. The following will be performed by your Dell EMC Representative:
▪ Create two new roles, VxRail Initial Global and VxRail Datacenter Global.
▪ Assign each of these roles to the new VxRail admin user.

Note: Starting with VxRail 4.5.200, you can deploy a customer-supplied vCenter Server on an existing
VxRail cluster, even the one it is managing. You must still provide a vCenter Server license.

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 5 Conclusion
During the planning stage of a VxRail cluster configuration, careful planning should take place
to determine the best vCenter Server deployment topology for your environment. VxRail gives
you the option of using a customer-supplied vCenter Server so that more topologies can be
supported. The VxRail vCenter Server has limited use case application. Since the decision for
the topology is not changeable after deployment for any use case, careful planning is essential.
For further details about the best vCenter deployment options, contact your Dell EMC sales team
or your VMware representative.

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