6.0.2

Table Of Contents
vCenter Server Deployment Models
You can install vCenter Server on a virtual machine or a physical server running Microsoft Windows Server
2008 SP2 or later, or can deploy the vCenter Server Appliance. The vCenter Server Appliance is a
precongured Linux-based virtual machine, optimized for running vCenter Server.
vSphere 6.0 introduces vCenter Server with an embedded Platform Services Controller and vCenter Server
with an external Platform Services Controller.
I This documentation provides information about the basic deployment models. For information
about the recommended topologies, see List of recommended topologies for vSphere 6.0.x.
vCenter Server with an
embedded
Platform Services
Controller
All services bundled with the Platform Services Controller are deployed on
the same virtual machine or physical server as vCenter Server.
vCenter Server with an
external
Platform Services
Controller
The services bundled with the Platform Services Controller and
vCenter Server are deployed on dierent virtual machines or physical
servers.
You rst must deploy the Platform Services Controller on one virtual
machine or physical server and then deploy vCenter Server on another
virtual machine or physical server.
N After you deploy vCenter Server with an embedded Platform Services Controller, you can
recongure your topology and switch to vCenter Server with an external Platform Services Controller. This
is a one-way process after which you cannot switch back to vCenter Server with an embedded
Platform Services Controller. You can repoint the vCenter Server instance only to an external
Platform Services Controller that is congured to replicate the infrastructure data within the same domain.
vCenter Server with an Embedded Platform Services Controller
vCenter Server and the Platform Services Controller are deployed on a single virtual machine or physical
server.
Figure 11. vCenter Server with an Embedded Platform Services Controller
Platform Services
Controller
Virtual Machine
or Physical Server
vCenter Server
Installing vCenter Server with an embedded Platform Services Controller has the following advantages:
n
The connection between vCenter Server and the Platform Services Controller is not over the network,
and vCenter Server is not prone to outages because of connectivity and name resolution issues between
vCenter Server and the Platform Services Controller.
n
If you install vCenter Server on Windows virtual machines or physical servers, you will need fewer
Windows licenses.
n
You will have to manage fewer virtual machines or physical servers.
n
You do not need a load balancer to distribute the load across Platform Services Controller.
vSphere Upgrade
16 VMware, Inc.