VMware 6.7/7 VCP Contents

 TABLE  OF CONTENTS

LABS

MODULE 1 Course Introduction 



Importance
Learner Objectives (1)
Learner Objectives (2)
Typographical Conventions
References 
VMware Online Resources
VCP-Core Certification Alignment



Module Lessons


Lesson 1: Introduction to the Software-Defined Data Center

Topology of a Physical Data Center
Introducing the Virtual Infrastructure 
About Virtual Machines 
Benefits of Using Virtual Machines
Physical Architecture and Virtual Architecture 
Physical Resource Sharing 
CPU Virtualization  
Physical and Virtualized Host Memory Usage  
Physical and Virtual Networking  
Physical File Systems and VMFS 
Encapsulation 
About the Software-Defined Data Center 
How vSphere Fits into Cloud Computing 
About Private Clouds 
About Public Clouds 
About Hybrid Clouds 
Review of Learner Objectives



Lesson 2: vSphere Client
Learner Objectives
User Interfaces
Downloading vSphere Client
Using vSphere Client
vSphere Client: Configuration Tab
Viewing Processor and Memory Configuration 
Viewing and Exporting ESXi Host System Logs 
Viewing Licensed Features 
 VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage

Lab 1: Installing vSphere Client 

Review of Learner Objectives



Lesson 3: Overview of ESXi
Learner Objectives
About ESXi Hosts 
Physical and Virtual Architecture 
Configuring an ESXi Host 
Configuring an ESXi Host: Root Access  
Configuring an ESXi Host: Management Network 
Configuring an ESXi Host: Other Settings  
Network Settings: DNS and Routing  
Remote Access Settings: Security Profile  
Managing User Accounts Best Practices 


Lab 2: Configuring ESXi Hosts  
Review of Learner Objectives 
Key Points 





MODULE 3 



Creating Virtual Machines 
You Are Here  
Importance 


Module Lessons 


Lesson 1: Virtual Machine Concepts 
Learner Objectives
About Virtual Machine Files
About Virtual Machine Virtual Hardware
Virtual Hardware Versions 
About Virtual Hardware Version 11 
About CPU and Memory
About Virtual Disks
About Thick-Provisioned Virtual Disks
About Thin-Provisioned Virtual Disks 
About Network Virtual Machine Configuration 
About Network Adapters
About Miscellaneous Devices
About the Virtual Machine Console 
Review of Learner Objectives



Lesson 2: 


Creating a Virtual Machine
Learner Objectives
About Provisioning Virtual Machine
Creating Virtual Machines with the New Virtual Machine Wizard 
New Virtual Machine Wizard 
Installing the Guest Operating System 
Deploying OVF Templates 
Deploying a Virtual Machine in vCloud Air
About VMware Tools 
Removing a Virtual Machine
Troubleshooting OS Installation Failures on ESX/ESXi Hosts 
Troubleshooting VMware Tools Installation Problems
Lab 3: Working with Virtual Machines
Review of Learner Objectives
Key Points 






MODULE 4 vCenter Server
You Are Here
Importance


Module Lessons


Lesson 1: vCenter Server Architecture 
Learner Objectives
About the vCenter Server Management Platform 
vCenter Server Architecture 
Additional vCenter Server Services and Interfaces
Platform Services Controller
vCenter Server Services and Functions
ESXi and vCenter Server Communication
Default vCenter Server Plug-Ins 
vSphere Web Client Plug-In Packages 
Review of Learner Objectives


Lesson 2: Deploying vCenter Server Appliance 

Learner Objectives
vCenter Server Appliance Features
vCenter Server Appliance Basics 
Platform Services Controller Deployment Recommendations (1) 
Platform Services Controller Deployment Recommendations (2) 
Platform Services Controller Deployment Recommendations (3) 
vCenter Server Appliance Scalability 
vSphere License Service 
Preparing for vCenter Server Appliance Deployment (1)
Preparing for vCenter Server Appliance Deployment (2)
Deploying vCenter Server Appliance 
vCenter Server Appliance Installation Media 
Accessing vCenter Server Appliance 
Connecting to the ESXi Host on Which to Deploy vCenter Server
Appliance 
Specifying the Virtual Machine Name and Password for Root User  
Selecting the Deployment Type 
Configuring vCenter Single Sign-On 

 VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage
Selecting a vCenter Server Appliance Size 
Selecting a Datastore 
Configuring Network Settings
Using the vSphere Web Client to Log In to vCenter Server
Adding License Keys to vCenter Server
Configuring vCenter Server Settings
Managing the vCenter Server Services 
Monitoring Health and Status of Services and Nodes Across vCenter
Server Systems 
ESXi Host as an NTP Client 
Configuring Host Time Synchronization 



Lab 4: Working with vCenter Server
Review of Learner Objectives



Lesson 3: vSphere Web Client 
Learner Objectives
Accessing vSphere Web Client 
vSphere Web Client Home Page 
Using the vSphere Web Client Navigator 
vCenter Server Views: Hosts and Clusters, VMs and Templates
vCenter Server Views: Storage and Networks 
Viewing Object Information 
Viewing Recent Objects 
Using Quick Filters 
Using Drag-and-Drop Functionality 


Lab 5: Using vSphere Web Client 
Review of Learner Objectives 


Lesson 4: Managing the vCenter Server Inventory
Learner Objectives
About Data Center Objects 
Organizing Inventory Objects into Folders
Using Folders
Adding a Host to the vCenter Server Inventory 
Creating Custom Tags for Inventory Objects 
vCenter Server Events
vCenter Server System Logs


Lab 6: Creating Folders in vCenter Server Appliance 
Review of Learner Objectives
Key Points



MODULE 5 



Configuring and Managing Virtual Networks
You Are Here 
Importance


Module Lessons


Lesson 1: Introduction to vSphere Standard Switches 
Learner Objectives
Types of Virtual Switch Connections 
Virtual Switch Connection Examples
Types of Virtual Switches 
Standard Switch Components 
Viewing the Standard Switch Configuration
About VLANs 
Network Adapter Properties 
Review of Learner Objectives


Lesson 2: Configuring Standard Switch Policies 
Learner Objectives
Network Switch and Port Policies
Configuring Security Policy 
Traffic-Shaping Policy 
Configuring Traffic Shaping 
NIC Teaming and Failover Policy
Load-Balancing Method: Originating Virtual Port ID 
Load-Balancing Method: Source MAC Hash  
Load-Balancing Method: Source and Destination IP Hash 
Detecting and Handling Network Failure 

Lab 7: Using Standard Switches  
Review of Learner Objectives 

Lesson 3: 

Introduction to vSphere Distributed Switches 
Learner Objectives
About vSphere Distributed Switches
Benefits of Distributed Switches
Standard Switch and Distributed Switch Feature Comparison 
Distributed Switch Architecture 
Distributed Switch Example
Viewing a Distributed Switch 
Creating a Distributed Switch 
Editing General and Advanced Distributed Switch Properties 
Migrating Network Adapters to a Distributed Switch
Assigning a Physical NIC of a Host to a Distributed Switch 
Connecting Virtual Machines to a Distributed Switch 
Editing Distributed Port Group General Properties
Editing Distributed Port Group Advanced Properties
About the VMkernel Networking Level 
Creating a VMkernel Adapter on a Host Associated with a
Distributed Switch
Virtual Machine Communication Problem Analysis (1)
Virtual Machine Communication Problem Analysis (2)

VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage
Physical Network Considerations 



Lab 8: Using vSphere Distributed Switches  
Review of Learner Objectives 
Key Points  


MODULE 6 

Configuring and Managing Virtual Storage  
You Are Here  
Importance 
Module Lessons 
Lesson 1: Storage Concepts 
Learner Objectives 
Basic Storage Overview  
Storage Protocol Overview  
About Datastores
About VMFS5 
About NFS
About Raw Device Mapping 
Virtual SAN Overview 
About Virtual Volumes
Storage Device Naming Conventions 
Physical Storage Considerations 
Review of Learner Objectives



Lesson 2: iSCSI Storage 
Learner Objectives
iSCSI Components 
iSCSI Addressing 
iSCSI Initiators 
Setting Up iSCSI Adapters 
ESXi Network Configuration for IP Storage
Creating Datastores and Discovering iSCSI Targets
iSCSI Security: CHAP 
Multipathing with iSCSI Storage 



Lab : Accessing iSCSI Storage 
Review of Learner Objectives



Lesson 3: NFS Datastores 
Learner Objectives
NFS Components
Configuring an NFS Datastore 
NFS v3 and NFS v4.1 
NFS Version Compatibility with Other vSphere Technologies 
NFS Dual Stack Not Supported
NFS Datastore Name and Configuration
Configuring AD and NFS Servers to Use Kerberos 


 
Configuring Host Authentication and NFS Kerberos Credentials 
Implications of Using NFS Kerberos 
Configuring the Datastore to Use Kerberos 
Viewing IP Storage Information 
Unmounting an NFS Datastore 
Multipathing and NFS Storage 
Enabling Session Trunking and Multipathing



Lab 10: Accessing NFS Storage 
Review of Learner Objectives
Lesson 4: VMFS Datastores 
Learner Objectives
Using VMFS Datastores with ESXi Hosts 
Creating and Viewing VMFS Datastores 
Browsing Datastore Contents 
Managing Overcommitted Datastores
Increasing the Size of a VMFS Datastore 
Before Increasing the Size of a VMFS Datastore 
Deleting or Unmounting a VMFS Datastore
Multipathing Algorithms
Configuring Storage Load Balancing 


Lab 11: Managing VMFS Datastores 
Review of Learner Objectives
Lesson 5: Virtual SAN Datastores 
Learner Objectives
About Virtual SAN 
Virtual SAN Requirements 
Configuring a Virtual SAN Datastore 
Disk Groups
Cluster Summary Tab 
Using Virtual SAN 
Objects in Virtual SAN Datastores
Virtual Machine Storage Policies 
Configuring Virtual Machine Storage Policies 
Viewing a Virtual Machine's Virtual SAN Datastore 
Disk Management (1) 
Disk Management (2) 
Adding Disks to a Disk Group 
Removing Disks from a Disk Group
Virtual SAN Cluster Member Maintenance Mode Options 
Removing a Host from a Virtual SAN Cluster 
Review of Learner Objectives
Lesson 6: Virtual Volumes 

Learner Objectives


VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage
Next-Generation Storage  
Using the Hypervisor to Transform Storage 
Why Virtual Volumes  
VMDKs as Native Objects  
Storage Array Requirements  
Storage Administration  
Protocol Endpoints 
Storage Containers
Using Virtual Volumes
Bidirectional Discovery Process 
Storage-Based Policy Management (1)
Storage-Based Policy Management (2)
Review of Learner Objectives
Key Points 



MODULE 7 


Virtual Machine Management
You Are Here 
Importance
Module Lessons


Lesson 1: Creating Templates and Clones 
Learner Objectives
Using a Template
Creating a Template 
Deploying a Virtual Machine from a Template 
Updating a Template 
Cloning a Virtual Machine 
Customizing the Guest Operating System
Deploying Virtual Machines Across Data Centers 


Lab 12: Using Templates and Clones 


Review of Learner Objectives

Lesson 2:

 Modifying Virtual Machines
Learner Objectives
Modifying Virtual Machine Settings
Hot-Pluggable Devices 
Creating an RDM 
Dynamically Increasing a Virtual Disk's Size 
Inflating a Thin-Provisioned Disk
Virtual Machine Options
VMware Tools Options
Boot Options 
Troubleshooting a Failed VMware Tools Installation on a Guest Operating System 


Lab 13: Modifying Virtual Machines 


Review of Learner Objectives


Lesson 3: Migrating Virtual Machines  
Learner Objectives 
Migrating Virtual Machines  
Comparison of Migration Types  
vSphere vMotion Migration  
How vSphere vMotion Migration Works  
vSphere vMotion Migration Requirements 
Host Requirements for vSphere vMotion Migration 
CPU Constraints on vSphere vMotion Migration  
Other Cluster Settings: EVC for vSphere DRS 
CPU Baselines for an EVC Cluster 
EVC Cluster Requirements  
Hiding or Exposing NX/XD  
Identifying CPU Characteristics  
Checking vSphere vMotion Errors 
vSphere Storage vMotion in Action 
vSphere Storage vMotion Guidelines and Limitations  
Cross-Host vSphere vMotion 
Cross-Host vSphere vMotion Migration Considerations   
Migration Between vCenter Server Instances 
vSphere vMotion TCP/IP Stacks 
Long-Distance vSphere vMotion Migration  
Networking Requirements for Long-Distance vSphere
vMotion Migration  
Network Checks for Migrations Between vCenter Server Instances  


Lab 14: Migrating Virtual Machines1

Review of Learner Objectives2


Lesson 4: Creating Virtual Machine Snapshots  
Learner Objectives 
Virtual Machine Snapshots  
Virtual Machine Snapshot Files   
Taking a Snapshot   
Managing Snapshots 
Deleting a Virtual Machine Snapshot (1)  
Deleting a Virtual Machine Snapshot (2)  
Deleting a Virtual Machine Snapshot (3)  
Deleting All Virtual Machine Snapshots 
About Snapshot Consolidation  
Discovering When to Consolidate  
Performing Snapshot Consolidation 
Lab 15: Managing Virtual Machines
Review of Learner Objectives08
xii VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage


Lesson 5: Creating vApps  
Learner Objectives 
Managing Virtual Machines with a vApp 
vApp Characteristics 
Exporting and Deploying vApps


Lab 16: Managing vApps 
Review of Learner Objectives



Lesson 6: 


Working with Content Libraries
Learner Objectives
About the Content Library
Benefits of Content Libraries 
Library Subscription Types
Subscribing to vCloud Director 5.5 Catalogs
Publish and Subscribe 
Synchronization and Versioning 
Content Library Requirements and Limitations 
Creating a Content Library 
Selecting Storage for the Content Library
Populating Content Libraries with Content
Importing Items into the Content Library 
Deploying a Virtual Machine to a Content Library
Publishing a Content Library for External Use 
Review of Learner Objectives
Key Points 




MODULE 8


 Resource Management and Monitoring 
You Are Here 
Importance
Module Lessons
Lesson 1: Virtual CPU and Memory Concepts
Learner Objectives
Memory Virtualization Basics
Virtual Machine Memory Overcommitment
Memory Reclamation Techniques
Virtual SMP
Hyperthreading 
CPU Load Balancing
Review of Learner Objectives


Lesson 2: Resource Controls and Resource Pools 
Learner Objectives
Shares, Limits, and Reservations
How Virtual Machines Compete for Resources 
About Resource Pools 

Contents xiii
Resource Pool Attributes
Reasons to Use Resource Pools
Resource Pool Case Study
Resource Pool Example
Resource Pools Example: CPU Shares
Resource Pools Example: CPU Contention 
Expandable Reservation 
Example of Expandable Reservation (1)
Example of Expandable Reservation (2)
Admission Control for CPU and Memory Reservations
Resource Pool Summary Tab 
Resource Reservation Tab
Scheduling Changes to Resource Settings 


Lab 17: Managing Resource Pools 
Review of Learner Objectives


Lesson 3: Monitoring Resource Use 
Learner Objectives
Performance-Tuning Methodology 
Resource-Monitoring Tools
Guest Operating System Monitoring Tools
Using Perfmon to Monitor Virtual Machine Resources 
About Monitoring Inventory Objects with Performance Charts
Working with Overview Performance Charts
Working with Advanced Performance Charts
Chart Options: Real-Time and Historical 
Chart Types 
Saving Charts
Objects and Counters
Statistics Type 
Rollup 
Setting Log Levels
Interpreting Data from the Tools
CPU-Constrained Virtual Machine 
Memory-Constrained Virtual Machine 
Memory-Constrained Host 
Monitoring Active Memory of a Virtual Machine 
Disk-Constrained Virtual Machines 
Monitoring Disk Latency 
Network-Constrained Virtual Machines 

Lab 18: Monitoring Virtual Machine Performance6
Review of Learner Objectives 


Lesson 4: Using Alarms 
Learner Objectives
xiv VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage
About Alarms  
Alarm Settings 
Alarm Triggers  
Configuring Condition Triggers  
Configuring Event Triggers 
Configuring Actions  
Configuring vCenter Server Notifications 
Viewing and Acknowledging Triggered Alarms  
Lab 1: Using Alarms  
Review of Learner Objectives 


Lesson 5: vRealize Operations Manager 
Learner Objectives 
About vRealize Operations  
Overview of vRealize Operations  
About vRealize Operations Manager  
Cloud Operations Console 
Operations Visibility 
Reduced Time to Investigate and Resolve Issues 
vRealize Operations Manager Installation Overview  
Installation Prerequisites  
Deploying the vRealize Operations Manager Node  
Types of Installations  
Initial Setup for a New Installation  
Continuing the New Installation  
Viewing the Cluster 
Finishing the Installation  
Configuring Solutions for Objects 
About the User Interface  
Major and Minor Badges 
About the Home Page  
Widgets on the Recommendations Dashboard  
vSphere Dashboards  
About Inventory Trees 
Selecting an Inventory Tree Type  
Viewing an Object's Details  
About the Administration Page  


Lab 20: (Optional) Using vRealize Operations Manager 
Review of Learner Objectives
Key Points 



MODULE  9


vSphere HA and vSphere Fault Tolerance  
You Are Here .
Importance.

Contents xv



Module Lessons



Lesson 1: Introduction to vSphere HA  
Learner Objectives 
Protection at Every Level  
vCenter Server Availability: Recommendations 
About vSphere HA  
vSphere HA Scenarios: ESXi Host Failure  
vSphere HA Scenarios: Guest Operating System Failure 
vSphere HA Scenarios: Application Failure  
Importance of Redundant Heartbeat Networks 
Redundancy Using NIC Teaming 
Redundancy Using Additional Networks  
Review of Learner Objectives 


Lesson 2: vSphere HA Architecture 
Learner Objectives
vSphere HA Architecture: Agent Communication 
vSphere HA Architecture: Network Heartbeats .
vSphere HA Architecture: Datastore Heartbeats
Additional vSphere HA Failure Scenarios 
Failed Slave Host 
Failed Master Host 
Isolated Host 
Design Considerations
Virtual Machine Storage Failures 
Virtual Machine Component Protection 
Review of Learner Objectives



Lesson 3: Configuring vSphere HA 
Learner Objectives
About Clusters
vSphere HA Prerequisites 
Configuring vSphere HA Settings
Permanent Device Loss and All Paths Down Overview 
vSphere HA Settings: Virtual Machine Monitoring (1) 
vSphere HA Settings: Virtual Machine Monitoring (2) 
vSphere HA Settings: Datastore Heartbeating 
vSphere HA Settings: Admission Control
vSphere HA Settings: Advanced Options 
Configuring Virtual Machine Overrides 
Network Configuration and Maintenance 
Cluster Resource Reservation 
Monitoring Cluster Status 



Lab 21: Using vSphere HA 
Review of Learner Objectives.588
xvi VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage


Lesson 4: Introduction to vSphere Fault Tolerance 
Learner Objectives 
vSphere Fault Tolerance 
vSphere Fault Tolerance Features (1) 
vSphere Fault Tolerance Features (2) 
How vSphere Fault Tolerance Works with vSphere HA and
vSphere DRS 
Redundant VMDKs
vSphere Fault Tolerance Checkpoint 
vSphere vMotion: Precopy 
vSphere vMotion: Memory Checkpoint 
vSphere Fault Tolerance Fast Checkpointing 
Shared Files 
shared.vmft File 
Enabling vSphere Fault Tolerance on a Virtual Machine  
Review of Learner Objectives 



Lesson 5: vSphere Replication and vSphere Data Protection  
Learner Objectives 
About vSphere Replication 
vSphere Replication Appliance 
How Replication Works 
Steps for Full Recovery
About vSphere Data Protection 
vSphere Data Protection Requirements and Architecture 
vSphere Data Protection Deployment and Configuration
Creating and Editing a vSphere Data Protection Backup Job 
Performing Restores with vSphere Data Protection 
Review of Learner Objectivess
Key Points 



MODULE 10

 Host Scalability 

You Are Here 
Importance.
Learner Objectives
vSphere DRS Cluster Prerequisites
vSphere DRS Cluster Settings: Automation Level 
Other Cluster Settings: Swap File Location for vSphere DRS 
vSphere DRS Cluster Settings: Virtual Machine Affinity 
vSphere DRS Cluster Settings: DRS Groups 
vSphere DRS Cluster Settings: VM-Host Affinity Rules 
VM-Host Affinity Rule: Preferential
VM-Host Affinity Rule: Required.

Contents 

vSphere DRS Cluster Settings: Automation at the Virtual
Machine Level
Adding a Host to a Cluster 
Viewing vSphere DRS Cluster Information 
Viewing vSphere DRS Recommendations 
Monitoring Cluster Status 
Maintenance Mode and Standby Mode
Removing a Host from the vSphere DRS Cluster
Improving Virtual Machine Performance Methods 
Using vSphere HA with vSphere DRS 


Lab 22: Implementing a vSphere DRS Cluster
Review of Learner Objectives
Key Points 


MODULE 11 vSphere Update Manager and Host Maintenance s
You Are Here 
Importance
Module Lessons



Lesson 1: Introducing vSphere Update Manager and Patch
Management 
Learner Objectives
About vSphere Update Manager 
vSphere Update Manager Capabilities 
vSphere Update Manager Components
Requirements for Installing vSphere Update Manager 
Installing vSphere Update Manager 
Configuring vSphere Update Manager Settings 
Baseline and Baseline Groups
Creating and Editing Patch or Extension Baselines 
Attaching a Baseline 
Scanning for Updates 
Viewing Compliance for vSphere Objects 
Remediating Objects 
Patch Recall Notification
Lab 23: Using vSphere Update Manager 
Review of Learner Objectives


Lesson 2: Host Profiles 
Learner Objectives
About Host Profiles
Host Profiles Workflow
Creating a Host Profile 
Attaching a Host Profile to a Host or Cluster 
Checking Compliance  
viii VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage
Remediating an ESXi Host  
Review of Learner Objectives 
Key Points  

MODULE 12 Installing vSphere Components 
You Are Here  
Importance 
Module Lessons 



Lesson 1: Installing ESXi 


Learner Objective
ESXi Hardware Prerequisites
Information for Installing ESXi
Installing ESXi 
Other ESXi Installation Options 
Booting from SAN 
Review of Learner Objectives


Lesson 2: Installing vCenter Server 
Learner Objectives
Overview of the vSphere Installation Process
Platform Services Controller
Other vCenter Server Functions and Services
Choosing Your Configuration 
When to Use a Windows Server or a Virtual Appliance
Choosing a Single System or a Distributed System 
vCenter Server in an Embedded Install
Distributed vCenter Server System Configuration 
Choosing an Installation Method
vCenter Server Appliance Benefits
vCenter Server Appliance Features
Installing vCenter Server on a Windows Server 
User Account for Running vCenter Server 
vCenter Server Windows Host Requirements
Supported Operating Systems for vCenter Server 6 
Supported External Databases for vCenter Server 6 on Windows 
Before Installing vCenter Server
Installing vCenter Server and Its Components 
Required Information 
vCenter Server Installation Demonstration 
Review of Learner Objectives
Key Points 

Authenticate to vCenter from Active Directory credentials

By default, when you install vCenter, a SSO domain is deployed. When you authenticate on vCenter, you use an identity from this SSO Domain. vCenter can also use identities from other identity sources such as Active Directory and LDAP. Thanks to Active Directory, you can create groups, assign them to vCenter roles and then manage accesss from Active Directory. In this topic, we’ll see how to authenticate to vCenter from Active Directory credentials.

Add identity source

To be able to authenticate to vCenter with Active Directory, you have to add an identity source. To add an identity source, navigate to Administration | Single Sign-On | Configuration. Click on the add button.

Then select Active Directory (Integrated Windows Authentication).

In the next screen, the wizard tells you that you cannot add this identity source because the vCenter Single Sign-On server is not joined to a domain. So, click on Go to Active Directory Management to join the vCenter SSO server to the domain.

Next, click on join.

Then specify a domain, an OU and credentials to join the vCenter to the domain.

Next restart the vCenter server. When it is online again, you should be joined to the Active Directory Domain.

Next go back to to Administration | Single Sign-On | Configuration. Click on the add button. Then select Active Directory (Integrated Windows Authentication). Now the wizard sets automatically the domain name. Just click on next.

After you have reviewed the settings, you can click on finish to add the identity source.

Once you have added the identity source, you should have its information in the table as below.

Use Active Directory users and groups in vCenter

Now that vCenter can use Active Directory accounts to authenticate, you can browser users and groups. Navigate to Users and Groups tab. In domain menu, select your domain. You should get all the user of the domain.

In the Active Directory console, I have created a group called GG-VMwareAdmins. The account Romain Serre is a member of this group.

Next go back to vCenter and select groups tab. Select the Administrators group and click on add member.

Then select your domain and specify the name of the group in search field. Once you have found your group, just click on Add and OK.

Now the GG-VMwareAdmins Active Directory group is member of Administrators vCenter group.

From the authentication page, specify an account member of the Active Directory group.

If the configuration is good, you should be logged into vCenter as below.

Activate Windows Session Authentication

VMware provides an authentication plugin to use the Windows session login to authenticate to vCenter. The below screenshots come from Firefox. Open the browser and navigate to the vCenter authentication page. Then in the footer of the page, click on Download Enhanced Authentication plugin.

Once you run the installer, you have a warning saying that all other plug-in instances will be stopped. Just click on OK.

Next the wizard says to you that two plug-ins will be installed: the VMware Enhanced Authentication Plug-in and VMware Plug-in Service installers. Click on OK.

Foreach plug-in, follow the process to install it.

When both plug-ins are installed, close and open the web browser. Next, open again the vCenter authentication page. You should have the below popup. Click on Remember my choice for vmware-plugin links and click on Open link.

Next, you are able to check Use Windows session authentication. When you check the box, the below pop-up appears. Click on Allow.

Now you can use the Windows session credentials to authenticate to vCenter.

Conclusion

The authentication from Active Directory brings a valuable way to manage and segregate rights. Almost all companies have an Active Directory to manage authentication and authorization centrally. Thanks to Active Directory, vCenter authentication and authorization can also be managed from this service. This enables to increase the security level because vCenter is not managed alone anymore and it is integrated into the overall company security policies (such as password length, expiration and so on).