HowTo: Install vCloud Connector

Thought I would write a quick how to step by step guide on how to deploy vCloud Connector and configure the plug-in with vCenter.  Once I have collected them all, I will update the article with the associated screenshots.

Deploying the Appliance from OVF

• Extract the contents of the vCC zip file
• Login to the Management Group vCenter and select Deploy OVF Template from the File menu
• Enter the full path of the vcc OVF that was extracted previously and click Next
• Confirm the details by clicking Next
• Accept the license agreement and click Next
• Provide a name for the Virtual Machine and select a Inventory Location, and click Next
• Select a host or cluster on which to run the vCloud Connector appliance and click Next
• Select a resource pool and click Next
• Select a datastore and click Next
• Select either Thin provisioned or Thick provisioned format and click Next
• Select a network to map the original source network too and click Next
• Confirm the details are correct and click Finish
• The deployment will begin
• Tasks will continue to run
• Once the tasks have completed successfully click Close

Configuring the vCloud Connector Appliance

• Select the recently deployed vCloud Connector Appliance and Power On
• The appliance will begin to boot up
• Enter a Admin Password
• Confirm the Admin Password
• Once the initial bootup has completed you will be presented with the vCloud Connector configuration page.  Note: By default vCloud Connector uses DHCP to configure the IP address address, if this is suitable please continue to the next section.
• Select Configure Network and press return
• Select Yes if you want to configure a IPv6 address or no if you only require IPv4
• Type N to select using static IPv4 instead of DHCP
• Type in a static IP address and press Return
• Type in a subnet mask and press Return
• Enter the default gateway and press Return
• Enter the primary DNS server address and press Return
• Enter Secondary DNS Address and press Return
• Enter a Hostname and press Return
• Select whether a Proxy is required to access the Internet by using Y/N and press Return
• Confirm that the details are correct and press Return
• The appliance will now begin configuring the IP address settings
• Once complete the IP address will be shown on the configuration page

Registering vCloud Connector Plugin with vCenter

• Open up a Internet browser and enter the address https://[ipofvcc]:8443/vccp.  Once the page has loaded accept the certificate warnings
• Login with the Username: Admin and the password set in the last section
• Enter the vCenter IP or FQDN and a username and password to connect and click Register
• Once the registration has been completed successfully you will be prompted with a success banner.  Click the X on this banner
• Once completed, the screen will display the vCloud Connector registration page.

Enabling the vCloud Connector Plug-in

• Login to vCenter and from the Plug-ins menu, select Manage Plug-ins…
• Select Enable from the menu
• The vCloud Connector plug-in will now be enabled.  Click Close
• The vCloud Connector plug-in will appear under Solutions and Applications towards the bottom of the Home screen in the vSphere client.
• Login to vCenter and selecthe vCloud Connector plug-in
• Accept the certificate warning
• Select the Add Cloud button

Change the Cloud Type from VMware vCloud Director to VMware vSphere

Locate the Installed Plug-in vCloud Connector and right click

Enter the vCenter Server IP or FQDN

Enter a username with relevant permissions

Enter the password Note: If using Self Signed Certificates for vCenter select the Ignore SSL Certificate checkbox

Click Add

• The vCenter has now been registered and can be seen in the left pane of the window

Connecting a vCloud

• Login to vCenter and selecthe vCloud Connector plug-in
• Accept the certificate warning
• Select the Add Cloud button
• Set the Cloud Type as VMware vCloud Director

Enter a name for the Cloud

Enter the URL of a vCloud Director Cell or Load Balancer

Enter a username with relevant permissions

Enter the password Note: If using Self Signed Certificates for vCloud Director select the Ignore SSL Certificate checkbox

Click Add

• The vCloud has now been registered and can be seen in the left pane of the window