Specifications

VMware, Inc. 23
Chapter 1 VMware Infrastructure Components
 VirtualCenteragent–Oneachmanagedhost,softwarethatcollects,
communicates,andexecutestheactionsreceivedfromtheVirtualCenterServer.
TheVirtualCenteragentisinstalledthefirsttimeanyhostisaddedtothe
VirtualCenterinventory.
 Hostagent–Oneachmanagedhost,softwarethatcollects,communicates,and
executestheactionsreceivedthroughtheVIClient.ItisinstalledaspartoftheESX
Serverinstallation.
 VirtualCenterlicenseserver–Aserverthatstoressoftwarelicensesrequiredfor
mostoperationsinVirtualCenterandESXServer,suchaspoweringonavirtual
machine.
VMwareInfrastructuresupportsmultiplemodesoflicensing.Notallmodesof
licensingrequirealicenseserver.VirtualCenterandfeaturesthatrequire
VirtualCenter,suchasVMware
VMotion™,requirealicenseserver.
FormoreinformationonVirtualCenterandESXServer3licensing,seethe
InstallationGuide.FormoreinformationonESXServer3ilicensing,seetheSetup
GuideforyourESXServer3iproduct.
Forcompleteinformationoninstallingthesecomponents,seetheInstallationGuide.
For
completeinformationonconfiguringESXServer3,seetheESXServer3
ConfigurationGuide.ForcompleteinformationonconfiguringESXServer3i,seethe
ESXServer3iConfigurationGuide.
VMware Infrastructure Client Interfaces
VMwareInfrastructureClientinterfaceoptionsinclude:
 VMwareInfrastructureClient(VIClient)–Arequiredcomponentandthe
primaryinterfaceforcreating,managing,andmonitoringvirtualmachines,their
resources,andtheirhosts.Italsoprovidesconsoleaccesstovirtualmachines.
VIClientisinstalledonaWindowsmachinewithnetworkaccesstoyourESX
ServerorVirtualCenterServer
installation.Theinterfacedisplaysslightlydifferent
optionsdependingonwhichtypeofserveryouareconnectedto.Whileall
VirtualCenteractivitiesareperformedbytheVirtualCenterServer,youmustuse
theVIClienttomonitor,manage,andcontroltheserver.AsingleVirtualCenter
ServerorESXServerhostcansupportmultiple,
simultaneouslyconnectedVI
Clients.