Protecting VMware vCenter Server Environments › VMware vCenter Server RHA Configuration

VMware vCenter Server RHA Configuration

vCenter Server has several components (Database Server, License Server and Web Access Server) that can be deployed to a single machine (local) or in a distributed manner.

• Install the same VMware vCenter Server components on the Replica so they match the components on the Master.
• Install the Arcserve RHA Engine on every vCenter Server.
• (In the Active Directory environment) Both Master and Replica servers should reside in the same Active Directory forest and be members of the same domain or trusted domains.

The following describes the two main methods of configuring the vCenter Server:

• Single machine (local) deployment--the Database Server, vCenter Server, License Server and Web Access Server are all installed on the same machine. If you install these components on the Master server, you must also install them on the Replica server.
• Distributed deployment--vCenter Server and Web Access Server are installed on one machine, while the Database Server, the License Server, or both are installed on another. If the vCenter Server machine goes down, the database can still operate. If you use distributed deployment, you must ensure the settings on both the Master and Replica servers both point to the same distributed machine(s). For distributed deployment, create a SQL or Oracle HA scenario to protect the separate database. See the appropriate Operation Guide for more information.

  Important! Regardless of the method you choose, the vCenter Server and the Web Access Server must be installed on the same machine.

If License Server deployment is distributed, perform one of the following:

• If License Server (A) is installed on the Master, install another instance of License Server (B) on the Replica and specify the B instance as the License Server for the vCenter Server running on the Replica.
• If License Server (A) is installed on a machine other than the Master server, specify the first instance (A) as the License Server for the vCenter Server running on the Replica.

Note: If you are running VMware vCenter 4, there is no longer a separate License Server to install.

In the following diagram, VMware vCenter Server is configured using the distributed deployment method. The vCenter Server system that houses the vCenter Server and Web Access Server is the Master Server. You must install the Arcserve RHA Engine on each vCenter Server in your environment: