I’ve been offline for most of the day and when I just switched on my laptop I noticed a new section(including downloads) on the VMTN forums. This section is about a single console multiple vCenter servers. VMware vCenter Administrator Portal (VCAP) is a web-based console that provides a central view into the VMware Infrastructure environment across multiple vCenter Server (VirtualCenter) instances. VCAP is delivered as a virtual appliance based on Linux. If you’re not comfortable with a virtual appliance you can also download the installable version.
This is, besides a linux vCenter client/server, an ofter requested feature. Keep in mind that it’s a preview of what will be available in one of the next versions. You can find a PDF with more detail here:
VirtualCenter Administrator Portal (VCAP) Overview (pdf).
Tech Preview – VirtualCenter Administrator Portal – Installation Guide – 2008 10 13.pdf (87.6 K)
What can you expect at this moment:
- Single sign-on to multiple vCenter Servers
- Monitor events and alarms across multiple vCenter Servers
- Search and track inventory across multiple vCenter Servers
- Launch VI Client in context to manage vCenter Servers
- Search for virtual machines across multiple vCenter Servers
- Launch virtual machine consoles
- Utilizes permissions setup in vCenter Servers
- Unified view for: vCenter Servers, Datacenters, Clusters, Hosts, Virtual Machines
- Access summary view of inventory objects, rolled up across vCenter Servers, for comparison and monitoring purposes
If anyone want to have a look at VCAP interface and dont have time to install it I have created a brief video about it.
http://vpxd.blogspot.com/2008/10/virtualcenter-administrator-portal.html
Kind of off-based, but when should you be installing a separate Virtual Center instance. I know many companies that simply create a new cluster for different physical locations…or is this tool mostly geared to those who will use SRM which requires two VirtualCenter instances?
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