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VMware VirtualCenter 1.1 Support Documentation


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Preparing for the VirtualCenter Database

VirtualCenter supports three types of database formats:

  • Microsoft Access (default)
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2000, Microsoft SQL Server 7
  • Oracle 8i

Each database requires some configuration adjustments in addition to the basic installation. The following sections describe these configuration adjustments.

The installation preparation topics are covered in the following sections:

Configuring Oracle 8i and 9i Connection to Work Locally

Configuring Oracle 8i and 9i Connection to Work Locally

If you are planning to use an Oracle database as your VirtualCenter database, and you are going to have VirtualCenter access the database locally.

To prepare an Oracle database to work locally with VirtualCenter:

  1. From the Oracle database machine install and prepare Oracle:
    1. Install Oracle8i or Oracle 9i and create a database (VirtualCenter).
    2. If you are installing Oracle 8i, then:

      Download Oracle ODBC 8.1.5.7 from the Oracle Web site.

      Install Oracle ODBC driver 8.1.5.7 through the Oracle Universal Installer (directions are provided with the driver).

    3. If you are installing Oracle 9i, then:

      Download Oracle ODBC 9.0.1.8 from the Oracle Web site.

      Install Oracle ODBC driver 9.0.1.8 through the Oracle Universal Installer (directions are provided with the driver).

    4. Increase the number of open cursors for the database. Add the entry open_cursors = 300 to the C:\Oracle\ADMIN\VPX\pfile\init.ora file.
  2. Connect Oracle locally:
    1. Create a new tablespace specifically for VirtualCenter using the following SQL statement:

      CREATE TABLESPACE vpx DATAFILE 'C:\Oracle\ORADATA\VPX\vpx.dat' SIZE 500M;

    2. Create a user for accessing this tablespace through ODBC:

      CREATE USER vpxAdmin IDENTIFIED BY vpxadmin DEFAULT TABLESPACE vpx;

    3. Allow that user CONNECT and DBA privileges:

      GRANT CONNECT, DBA to vpxAdmin;

    4. Create an ODBC connection to the database using the following settings:

      Data Source Name: VMware VirtualCenter
      TNS Service Name: VPX
      User Id: vpxAdmin

Configuring Oracle 8i or 9i Connection to Work Remotely

Configuring Oracle 8i or 9i Connection to Work Remotely

If you are planning to use an Oracle database as your VirtualCenter database, and you are going to have VirtualCenter access the database remotely.

To prepare an Oracle database to work remotely with VirtualCenter:

  1. Install the Oracle client on the VirtualCenter server machine.
  2. Connect Oracle remotely:
    1. Download and install the ODBC driver 8.1.5.7 or 9.0.1.8, as appropriate.
    2. Edit the tnsnames.ora file located at Ora81 or Ora91, as appropriate.

      C:\Oracle\Oraxx\NETWORK\ADMIN

      Where xx is either 81 or 91.

    3. Use the Net8 Configuration Assistant to add the following entry:

      VPX =
      (DESCRIPTION =
      (ADDRESS_LIST =
      (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=vpxd-Oracle)(PORT=1521))
      )
      (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SERVICE_NAME = VPX)
      )
      )
      HOST =

      Where HOST is the host to which the client needs to connect.

Configuring a SQL Server ODBC Connection

Configuring a SQL Server ODBC Connection

When you install VirtualCenter server, you have the option to establish a connection with a SQL Server database. The following procedure describes the procedure to configure a SQL Server ODBC connection. If you use the SQL Server authentication method, supply the same username, password, and ODBC system DSN in the wizard that you used to configure the ODBC.

Refer to your Microsoft SQL ODBC documentation for specific instructions regarding configuring the SQL Server ODBC connection.

To prepare a SQL Server database to work with VirtualCenter:

  1. On your Microsoft SQL server perform the following:
    1. Create a SQL Server database using Enterprise Manager on the SQL Server.
    2. Create a SQL Server database user with database operator (DBO) rights.

      The default database for the DBO user is what you defined in step 1.

  2. Perform the following steps on your VirtualCenter server.
  3. Open the Windows ODBC Data Source Administrator.

    Select Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Data Sources (ODBC).

  4. Select the System DSN tab.
  5. Modify an existing SQL Server ODBC connection:
    1. Select the SQL Server ODBC DSN you want to modify.
    2. Select the appropriate ODBC connection from the System Data Source list. Click Configure.
    3. Proceed with step 7 for creating a new SQL Server ODBC DSN connection.
  6. Create a new SQL Server ODBC connection:
    1. Select Create New Data Source. Click Add.
    2. Select a New Data Source to SQL Server. Click Finish.
  7. Specify an ODBC DSN name.

    Type the name in the Name field. For example, VMware VirtualCenter.

  8. Optionally, specify an ODBC DSN description.

    Type the description in the Description field.

  9. Select the DSN server name from the Server drop-down menu.

    Where local means local host.

    Type the SQL Server machine name in the field if you cannot find it in drop-down menu.

  10. Configure the SQL Server authentication screen. Click Next.
  11. Select an authentication option.

    Use either of the authentication methods:

    • If you are using local SQL Server, select Windows NT authentication.
    • If you are using remote SQL Server, select SQL Server authentication. You can also choose Windows NT authentication.

      Note: The authentication option you choose for a remote SQL Server must match the local SQL Server.

      To identify the authentication type:

    • Open SQL Server Enterprise Manager.
    • View Properties
    • Check the Mode.

      The mode indicates either Windows NT or SQL Server authentication type.

  12. Enter your SQL Server login and password.

    Refer to your database administrator for this information.

  13. Configure the default database. Click Next.
  14. Select the database.

    Select from the Change the default database to menu. Click Next.

  15. Complete the process. Click Finish.
  16. Verify the database source.

    From the ODBC Microsoft SQL Server Setup menu. Select Test Data Source.

    If the test data source is acceptable, click OK. If it is not acceptable, return and reconfigure any incorrect items.

  17. Close the ODBC Data Source Administrator. Click Close.
Configuring the Microsoft Access Database

Configuring the Microsoft Access Database

If you find that the database performance is slow, increase the buffer size.

To adjust the performance of the Microsoft Access database:

  1. Open the Windows ODBC Data Source Administrator.

    Select Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Data Sources (ODBC)

  2. Select the System DSN tab.
  3. Select ODBC Microsoft Access Setup. Click Options.
  4. Increase the buffer size. Then click OK.

    The default value is 2048. Change it to 8192.

  5. Restart the VirtualCenter server, if it is running.

    Refer to Starting or Stopping VMware VirtualCenter for information on starting and restarting the VirtualCenter server.

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