Installation guide

Installation Guide
26 VMware, Inc.
 Persistent static routing configured for the channel connection(s) where routing is required
 Two NICs (1 x Public and 1 x Channel) are recommended
 At least one Domain Controller at the Disaster Recovery (DR) site
 If the Primary and DR site use the same subnet:
 During install, follow the steps for a LAN or VLAN on the same subnet
 Both servers in the vCenter Server Heartbeat pair use the same Public IP address
 If the Primary and DR site use different subnets:
 During install, follow the steps for a WAN
 Both servers in the vCenter Server Heartbeat pair require a separate Principal (Public) IP address and
a VMware Channel IP address in a separate dedicated subnet
 Provide a user account with rights to update DNS using the DNSUpdate utility provided as a
component of vCenter Server Heartbeat through vCenter Server Heartbeat Console Applications >
Tasks > User Accounts
 VMware recommends integrating Microsoft DNS into AD so that DNSUpdate can identify all DNS
Servers that require updating
 At least one Domain Controller at the DR site
 Refer to the following articles in the VMware Knowledge Base:
 KB 1008571 – Configuring DNS with VMware vCenter Server Heartbeat in a WAN Environment
 KB 1008605 – Configuring vCenter Server Heartbeat to Update BIND9 DNS Servers Deployed in a
WAN
Firewall Configuration Requirements
When firewalls are used to protect networks, you must configure them to allow traffic to pass through both
the Client Connection port and the Default Channel port. VMware recommends that the Client Connection
port be configured by process rather than by specific port and that the Default Channel port be configured to
allow traffic to pass through on the specific configured port.
Bandwidth
Determine the available bandwidth and estimate the required volume of data throughput to determine
acceptable latency for the throughput. Additionally, the bandwidth can affect the required queue size to
accommodate the estimated volume of data. VMware recommends making a minimum of 1Mbit of spare
bandwidth available to vCenter Server Heartbeat.
vCenter Server Heartbeat includes automatic bandwidth optimization in WAN environments. This feature
compresses data transferred over the VMware Channel, optimizing the traffic for low bandwidth connections
causing some additional CPU load on the active server.
Latency
Latency has a direct effect on data throughput. Latency on the link should not fall below the standard defined
for a T1 connection.
Heartbeat Diagnostics can assist in determining the available bandwidth, required bandwidth, and server
workload. For more information about Heartbeat Diagnostics, contact VMware Professional Services.
Antivirus Recommendations
Consult with and implement the advice of your antivirus (AV) provider, as VMware guidelines often follow
these recommendations. Consult the VMware knowledge base for up to date information on specific AV
products.