VMware vCenter Chargeback Manager 2.6.0.1 Release Notes

What's in the Release Notes

• What's New in this Release
• System Requirements
• Preinstallation Tasks
• Quick Install
• Upgrading vCenter Chargeback Manager
• Known Issues

What's New in this Release

For more information on applying this patch, see Readme_CBM_2601 document.

System Requirements

This section provides information about the supported operating systems, database management systems, and vCenter Server versions. The vCenter Chargeback Manager User's Guide provides detailed information about the system requirements for installing and running the application.

Supported Operating Systems

• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with SP2 (32-bit and 64-bit)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 (32-bit and 64-bit)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 with SP2 (32-bit and 64-bit)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 (64-bit)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 with Service Pack 1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Standard

You can install and run vCenter Chargeback Manager on any supported localized Windows operating system. However, all the labels and text messages in the installer and application user interface (including the plug-in in the vSphere Client) are displayed in English only. The application supports ASCII, extended ASCII, and non-ASCII characters. However, the characters are rendered correctly only if the client machine uses the appropriate fonts and the Web browser supports all the characters. The installer does not support all characters. Ensure that the information entered in the installer contains only the supported characters as specified in the install and upgrade instructions in this release notes and in the vCenter Chargeback Manager User's Guide.

Supported Database Management Systems
vCenter Chargeback Manager supports the following database management systems:

• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (32-bit and 64-bit) (Standard and Enterprise)
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 with SP2 (32-bit and 64-bit) (Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter)
• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 with SP4 (32-bit and 64-bit)(Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter)
• Microsoft SQL Server 2012

vCenter Chargeback Manager supports the Standard and Enterprise edition of the following database management systems:

• Oracle Database 11g Release 2
• Oracle Database 11g Release 1
• Oracle Database 10g Release 2
• Oracle Database 10g Release 1
• Oracle Database 12c

Supported vCenter Server Versions and vCenter Server Databases

• vCenter Server 5.5
• vCenter Server 5.1
• vCenter Server 5.0 Update 1b
• vCenter Server 4.1 and all corresponding Update Releases
• vCenter Server 4.0 and all corresponding Update Releases

Important: We recommend that you do not add a vCenter Server 5.0 or vCenter Server 5.0 Update 1 server to vCenter Chargeback Manager because of a known memory leak issue. Also, do not add a vCenter Server 5.0 Update 1a server because of a known upgrade issue in vCenter Server. If you have a vCenter Server 5.0, vCenter Server 5.0 Update 1, or vCenter Server 5.0 Update 1a server, then first upgrade this to vCenter Server 5.0 Update 1b and then configure it in vCenter Chargeback Manager.

vCenter Chargeback Manager only supports vCenter Server databases that are created in Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle Database. vCenter Chargeback Manager does not support vCenter Server databases created in DB2.

Supported Web Browsers and Flash Player Plug-in

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 and 9.0
• Mozilla Firefox 25.0 and 25.0.1
• Adobe Flash Player for Windows Plug-in version 10.1
• Adobe Flash Player for Linux version 10.1 (Plug-in for Mozilla Firefox running on Linux Platform)
• Adobe PDF Reader plug-in for Internet Explorer

Supported VMware vCloud Director Versions

• VMware vCloud Director 5.5
• VMware vCloud Director 5.1
• VMware vCloud Director 1.5 and later

vCenter Chargeback Manager 2.6 does not support any release of VMware vCloud Director prior to VMware vCloud Director 1.5

Supported VMware vCenter Operations Versions

• VMware vCenter Operations 5.0 and later releases

Supported vCenter Chargeback Manager API Versions

The table below lists the different vCenter Chargeback Manager versions and the corresponding API versions that they support.

Preinstallation Tasks

Before you install and use the VMware vCenter Chargeback Manager application, you must perform the following tasks. For detailed pre-install and pre-upgrade instructions, refer to the vCenter Chargeback Manager Install and Upgrade Guide.

• Create a vCenter Chargeback Manager database and database user
  You must create a database for vCenter Chargeback Manager to store the application-specific data. Ensure that this database is not configured to be case-sensitive. In addition, you must also create a database user having permissions to create and delete schema, as well as read from and write to the database.
• Set a static IP address on the machine
  You must set a static IP address on the machine on which you plan to install vCenter Chargeback Manager. You can obtain a static IP address from your network administrator. Preferably, obtain and set static IP addresses on all the servers and databases that the application will communicate with. In the case of a multi-homed machine, you can configure vCenter Chargeback Manager with only one interface. That is to say, although you can install vCenter Chargeback Manager on a multi-homed machine, you can use only the IP address or FQDN that you provide during the installation to access and use vCenter Chargeback Manager. Also, if the different components, such as data collectors and vCenter Servers, in a vCenter Chargeback Manager setup are installed on multi-homed machines, vCenter Chargeback Manager communicates with these components by using the URL specified when configuring the components in vCenter Chargeback Manager.
• Ensure that MSI installation is enabled
  You must ensure that MSI installation is enabled on the machine. If it is not, you must manually install Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package (x86) before running the vCenter Chargeback Manager installer.
• Check whether the required ports are free
  Ensure that the ports that you specify during the installation are free. While installing vCenter Chargeback Manager, you must specify the port numbers for the HTTP port (default 8080), load-balancer port (default 8009), and HTTPS port (default 443).
• Ensure that port exceptions are configured on Windows Firewall
  If Windows Firewall is enabled, you must set port exceptions for the HTTP, load-balancer, and HTTPS ports on the Windows Firewall. If these exceptions are not set, the application will not be usable.
• Ensure that system time of all the servers and databases are in sync
  You must ensure that the system time of the machines on which you install vCenter Chargeback Manager and vCenter Chargeback Manager database are in sync. If you plan to install a separate data collector on a different machine, then the system time of this machine must be in sync with that of the other machines.
• Ensure that the Windows user has the Log on as a service permission
  If you want to use the Windows Authentication option for the vCenter Chargeback Manager database, you must ensure that the Windows user has the Log on as a service permission. If this permission is not set on the user, the installation fails. Also, the installer must be run in the context of this Windows user.
• Ensure that the SQL Server Browser service is running if you are using a Microsoft SQL Server database and using the database instance name and a dynamic database instance port to connect to the vCenter Chargeback Manager database or vCloud Director database.
• Ensure that the vCenter Chargeback Manager database is case-insensitive.

Quick Install

Download the vCenter-CB-2.6-1445187.zip file, and extract the contents on to the machine on which you want to install vCenter Chargeback Manager. Do not run the installer from a remote machine. To install vCenter Chargeback Manager:

1. Run the vCenter-CB.exe file.
   The installation wizard is displayed.
2. Click Next on the Introduction screen.
3. Accept the end-user license agreement, and click Next.
4. Provide the path for the installation directory, and click Next.
   Ensure that the installation directory path has at least one directory (for example, C:\vCenterChargeback\) and does not point to just a drive (for example, C:\). If the specified installation directory exists, ensure that it is empty. If the specified installation directory does not exist, the installer will create the directory. Also, the directory path must contain only ASCII characters.
5. Configure the following vCenter Chargeback Manager database-related information, and click Next:
   
   • Database Type: The type of database used to create the vCenter Chargeback Manager database. This can be either SQL SERVER or ORACLE.
   • Database URL: The IP address of the system on which the vCenter Chargeback Manager database is installed along with either the port at which the database listener service is running or the vCenter Chargeback Manager database instance name. The database instance name must contain only ASCII characters.
     For Oracle Database, the database URL can be in any of the following formats:
     
     • <IP Address>
     • <Host Name>
     For SQL Server, the database URL can be in any of the following formats:
     
     • <IP Address>
     • <Host Name>
     • <IP Address>\<Database Instance Name>
     • <Host Name>\<Database Instance Name>
     You can also specify a well formed JDBC URL that starts with 'jdbc' and contains the database name.
   • Database Port: (Optional) The port on which the database service is listening for requests. If the port number is not specified, the installer uses the default port. For an Oracle database, you must specify the TNS listener port if you are not using the default port 1521. For an SQL Server database, specify the database instance port if you are using a static port.
   • Database Name: Name of the database in which vCenter Chargeback Manager stores the application-specific data. For Oracle Database, ensure that you provide the service name and not the SID.
   • SQL Authentication Mode: This option is applicable only for SQL Server database. For an SQL Server database, the authentication type can be either SQL Server Authentication or Windows Authentication.
   • Database Username: The name of the database user. The database user must have privileges to create and delete schema, as well as read from and write to the database. If you select Windows Authentication for SQL Authentication Mode, you must provide the Windows user account name. The user name must be of the form <Domain_Name>\<User_Name>. The user must have the Log on as a service permission.
   • Database Password: Password for the user name that you have provided. If you select Windows Authentication for SQL Authentication Mode, you must provide the password for the Windows user account. Ensure that the Windows user account password does not contain any special characters. The installer might fail if the password contains special characters.
   If the database does not support partitions, a dialog recommending you upgrade the database to one that supports database partitions is displayed. If you want to use the specified database details, click Continue, else click Change database, go to previous screen and provide new database details.
   If the installer successfully connects to the database and the database user has CREATE, INSERT, and DROP privileges, the next screen is displayed.
6. Enter the load balancer-related information, and click Next:
   
   • IP Address: Static IP address or the FQDN of the machine on which you are installing the load balancer. Do not use localhost instead of the IP address or FQDN.
     Note: In the case of a multi-homed machine, you can configure vCenter Chargeback Manager with only one interface. If you are installing vCenter Chargeback Manager on a multi-homed machine, you can only use the IP address or FQDN that you provide in this step to access and use vCenter Chargeback Manager.
   • Admin Email Address: Email address of the server administrator. Ensure that the email address contains only ASCII characters.
   • HTTPS Port: An unused port through which the Apache Server communicates. The load balancer listens on this port for user requests.
   If the specified port is free, the next screen is displayed.
7. Select Install vCenter Chargeback Server, enter IP address and port details for the vCenter Chargeback Manager, and click Next:
   
   • IP Address: Static IP address or the FQDN of the machine on which you are installing vCenter Chargeback Manager. Do not use localhost instead of the IP address or FQDN.
   • HTTP Port: An unused HTTP port through which vCenter Chargeback Manager communicates.
   • Load-Balancer Port: An unused port through which vCenter Chargeback Manager can communicate with the load balancer (Apache Server).
   • Server Instance Name: A user-defined name for the vCenter Chargeback Manager instance. This name is used by the load balancer to identify the instance. Ensure that the instance name contains only ASCII characters.
   If the specified ports are free, the next screen is displayed.
8. Enter a user name and password for the administrative account that will be used to manage the vCenter Chargeback Manager application, and click Next.
   The password must be less than or equal to 24 characters in length.
   Note: If you are using Oracle Database for your vCenter Chargeback Manager database, ensure that the user name for the administrative account contains only ASCII and non-ASCII characters. Extended ASCII characters in the user name is not supported. This restriction is not applicable if you are using Microsoft SQL Server for you vCenter Chargeback Manager database.
9. Select the Install Data Collector option and click Next.
   You must have at least one instance of the data collector that is running and registered with the application for the database synchronization jobs to run.
10. Review the information displayed on the Pre-Installation Summary screen, and click Install.
    The installer starts installing the various components and creating the database schema. If the installation is successful, the URL for accessing the vCenter Chargeback Manager application is displayed.
11. Note this URL, and click Done.
    The installer displays a dialog stating whether you want to generate a default SSL certificate or a self-signed SSL certificate.
12. Click Generate my own SSL Certificate.
    A command window is displayed.
    1. Provide a pass phrase for the default key and press Enter.
       You are prompted to enter the pass phrase three more times. Provide the same pass phrase and press Enter each time.
    2. Provide the required certificate information and press Enter.
       You are prompted to enter the following information:
       • Country Code: A two letter code for the country.
       • State or Province Name: Name of the state or province.
       • Locality Name: Name of the city or town.
       • Organization Name: Name of the organization.
       • Organization Unit Name: Name of the department or organization unit.
       • Common Name: Your name.
       • Email Address: An email address.
    3. Provide the requested extra attributes for the certificate and press Enter.
       You are prompted to enter the following information:
       • A challenge password: A user-defined password.
       • An optional company name: Company name. This is optional and can be left blank.
    4. Provide the pass phrase and press Enter.
       You are prompted to enter the pass phrase again. Provide the same pass phrase and press Enter.
    5. Press any key to complete the process and close the window.
    An SSL certificate is successfully installed.
    If you click Generate default SSL Certificate, an SSL certificate with default values is generated. You are not prompted for any information. Press any key, when prompted, to close the command-line window.

For detailed install instruction, refer to the vCenter Chargeback Manager User's Guide.

Upgrading vCenter Chargeback Manager

You can upgrade an existing vCenter Chargeback Manager 2.0 or later setup to vCenter Chargeback Manager 2.6. Refer to the vCenter Chargeback Manager Installation and Upgrade Guide for detailed instructions.
If you have a vCenter Chargeback 1.5.x or 1.6.x setup, you must first upgrade to vCenter Chargeback Manager 2.0 before upgrading to vCenter Chargeback Manager 2.6.

Known Issues

The known issues in this release are listed in this section. Workarounds, if any, are provided in the issue description.

Report Management Issues

• The on-demand report generation fails with an error Decryption of the password failed.
  If you add vCenter Server Appliance, which is configured in embedded Postgres database to Chargeback Manager in on-demand mode and that has Enable Stats Replication flag set to false, then on-demand reports generation fails with an error
  Decryption of the password failed.

• Dashboard reports for hierarchy cancelled in previous run affect the execution of the same in the next report cycle
  When you cancel a Dashboard report which is in running state and you attempt to reconfigure the same in the next Dashboard report schedule, the report fails with the following error
  Requested report information cannot be found!.

VMware vCloud Director Data Collector and vShield Manager Data Collector Issues

Some of the following listed issues are common for both the VMware vCloud Director Data Collector and the vShield Manager Data Collector.

• Additional vCloud data collector and vShield Manager data collector appears in ths system health page. This happens when new Chargeback Manager 2.6 installation is pointed to existing Chargeback Manager database. You can see additional vCloud data collector and vShield Manager data collector on the system health page as PASSIVE. Database also has to display two vCloud data collector and vShield Manager data collectors.

• If the VMware vCloud Director database has a large history of chargeback events, the processing of the events might take a long time to complete. This issue happen if you integrate a vCloud Director 1.5 or vCloud Director 1.5.1 setup. For vCloud Director 5.1, the inventory synchronization time depends on the size of the inventory.

• The vShield Manager data collector does not account for one hour of external network utilization data in the case of daylight savings time. If daylight savings is configured, then the vShield Manager data collector does not account for the external network utilization data in the 25th hour.

Hierarchy Management Issues

• Changes to a chargeback hierarchy are not reflected in the concurrent user sessions
  Hierarchy creation, deletion, and renaming operations performed by a user are not automatically reflected in concurrent user sessions. The concurrent users must log out and then log in again to see these changes. Any other change to the chargeback hierarchy, such as adding or deleting an entity, might not reflect immediately in the concurrent user sessions. After a change is made to the chargeback hierarchy, the hierarchy must be manually refreshed in the concurrent user sessions. Users can refresh the chargeback hierarchy by clicking the refresh button next to the chargeback hierarchy or by loading another chargeback hierarchy and then reloading the chargeback hierarchy. The refresh button appears only if vCenter Chargeback Manager detects changes to the chargeback hierarchy.

• While getting active moids for large vCenter server hierarchies the VI inventory faces timeout issues
  When fetching active moids for large vCenter server hierarchies the VI inventory timesout with impl.Inventory: java.net.SocketTimeoutException.

SQL Server Issues

• Windows Authentication for SQL server on vCenter Chargeback virtual appliance is not supported
  The Chargeback Manager no longer supports the Windows authentication for SQL server using vCenter Chargeback virtual appliances.

Other Issues

• vCenter Chargeback Manager shows duplicate datastore entries
  If a datastore is shared by more than one ESXi host and each ESXi host is added to different vCenter Servers, after adding these vCenter Servers to vCenter Chargeback Manager you can see the datastore listed multiple times in the vCenter Chargeback Manager UI. Let us consider a datastore is shared by two ESXi hosts and each of these are added to different vCenter Servers. You add both these vCenter Servers to vCenter Chargeback Manager. When you select DataStores on the Edit Infrastructure Cost page of the Configure Cost tab, this shared datastore is listed twice. You must ensure that you perform the same set of action on both these datastores entries in vCenter Chargeback Manager. That is to say, you must set the same rate factors on both the datastore entries and keep them under the same datastore tier always. Else, the corresponding cost and usage data reported might be erroneous.

• Ensure that the Windows User account password does not contain any special characters
  The Windows User account password should not contain any special characters, the installer might fail if the password contains special characters.

• The Chargeback Manager cannot delete or update vCenter Server entry if the vCenter Server is down
  When you add a vCenter Server to Chargeback Manager and configure the vCenter Server with DHCP, vCenter Server is assigned a static IP. Now you might not be able to contact vCenter Server from Chargeback Manager even if you attempt to remove the vCenter Server entry from Chargeback Manager and the operation fails. For more information see Knowledge Base article 2054587