Specifications
vCenter Server includes a service called VMware VirtualCenter Management Webservices. This service
requires 128MB to 1.5GB of additional memory. The VirtualCenter Management Webservices process
allocates the required memory at startup.
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Disk storage – 2GB. Disk requirements might be higher if the database runs on the same machine.
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Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express disk requirements – Up to 2GB free disk space to decompress the
installation archive. Approximately 1.5GB of these files are deleted after the installation is complete.
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Networking – Gigabit connection recommended.
See your database documentation for the hardware requirements of your database. The database requirements
are in addition to the vCenter Server requirements if the database and vCenter Server run on the same machine.
Minimum Requirements for the vSphere Client
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CPU – 1 CPU
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Processor – 266MHz or faster Intel or AMD processor (500MHz recommended).
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Memory – 200MB RAM
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Disk Storage – 1GB free disk space for a complete installation, which includes the following components:
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Microsoft .NET 2.0
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Microsoft .NET 3.0 SP1
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Microsoft Visual J#
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vSphere Client 4.0
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vSphere Host Update Utility 4.0
You must also have 400MB free on the drive that has your %temp% directory.
If all of the prerequisites are already installed, 300MB of free space is required on the drive that has your
%temp% directory, and 450MB is required for the vSphere Client 4.0.
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Networking – Gigabit connection recommended.
32-Bit or 64-Bit Operating System for vCenter Server
When you have up to 200 hosts, you can use a 32-bit Windows operating system, but a 64-bit Windows
operating system is preferred. When you have 200–300 hosts, a 64-bit Windows operating system is required.
Recommendations for Optimal Performance
Depending on the number of ESX hosts and virtual machines in your environment, the following system
requirements should be used as guidelines for optimal performance.
IMPORTANT The recommended disk sizes assume default log levels. If you configure more granular log levels,
more disk space is required.
Table 3 summarizes the requirements for a medium deployment.
Table 3. Up to 50 Hosts and 250 Powered-On Virtual Machines
Product CPU Memory Disk
vCenter Server 2 4GB 3GB
vSphere Client 1 200MB 1GB
Table 4 summarizes the requirements for a large deployment.
Getting Started with ESXi Installable
26 VMware, Inc.