VMware vCenter 7.0 install step-by-step

Event VMware
VMware vSphere 7.0 – What's new?! – dead:beef::1

I finally decided to upgrade my lab to vSphere 7.0.

I tried an upgrade and had issue with it, so I finally decided to install a brand new vCenter 7.0.

First you will need to download VMware vCenter Server Appliance ISO file from VMware web site:

  • Mount the ISO file downloaded previously
  • Go to vcsa-ui-installer folder
  • Go to win32 folder
  • Launch installer.exe bu double-clicking on the file
  • Click on Install
  • Click on Next
  • Accept the User Agreement and click on Next
  • Provide IP of the host where you want to install vCenter Applicance, the root password and click on Next
  • Click on Yes
  • Provide a name for the VM, set the root password and click on Next
  • Select your deployment type (I keep default one for my Lab) and click on Next
  • Select the Datastore (I will keep it local for now) and click on Next
  • Select Network, provide FQDN, network information and click on Next
  • Review information and click on Finish
  • At the end of the deployment, click on Continue
  • Click on Next
  • Click on Next
  • Provide SSO Domain, Password and click on Next
  • If you want to join CEP click on Next (otherwise uncheck the box)
  • Review details and click on Finish
  • Click on OK to start the install
  • Click on Close
  • Click on Launch vSphere Client (HTML5)
  • Provide credentials and click on Login

Note: on the bottom of your screen you will see a link Download Enhanced Authentication Plugin

The weird thing here is that it’s version 6.7.0

  • When plugin is installed, on first connection you have the above pop-up, click on Open vmware-cip-launcher
  • Provide credentials and click on Login
  • Next steps will be to add host, manage license, etc.

Feedback:

  1. Installation is quite easy as always
  2. To find after first logon that updates are available is strange as I download the version from VMware site just before the install (and the upgrade is from 1/29/2020 (Note for VMware, why not include the updates in the ISO when they are released?)

Note: If you are running vCenter 6.7 U3 you will need to upgrade 7.0.0 first upgrade to 7.0.0.a is not supported.

Thanks for reading, feel free to share.