Today, we will discuss on how to install and configure vSphere Replication solution. vSphere Replication is the native replication solution designed for data protection and recovery in vSphere environments.
The solution is requires no additional license and supports vSphere deployments from vSphere Essentials Plus to vSphere Enterprise Plus. We will be configuring 2 separate sites connected through Embedded Link mode for the deployment (No external PSCs).
First we need to download the ISO file containing the replication appliance OVA. The file is located at my.vmware.com under All Products –> VMware vSphere.
After downloading the ISO, mount it from the local PC. If you browse to the mount location you will see several OVF templates located inside the folder “bin”.
Next, Log into the vCenter Server of the source site and open an OVF deployment window. Navigate to the OVF location and select required files. After selecting files click next to continue.
Then, provide a name for the appliance vm and a folder location. Click next to continue.
After that select a cluster or a ESXi host for the vm to reside and click next to continue.
You can verify the OVF template details in this page. After reviewing the information click next to continue.
Check the checkbox to accept the EULA and then click next to continue.
Select vCPU configuration as needed for your environment. Then, click next to continue.
From here, you can select a datastore for appliance deployment. Provide details as required for your environment and click next to continue.
Next, provide a network portgroup for management network access.
After that, provide required information for OVF customization. Click next to continue.
Keep the default extension binding service as it is and click next to continue.
Finally, review the configuration and click finish to start appliance deployment.
The deployment will take some time and you can start the deployment of the target site until this completes.
After appliance deployed completely power on the vm and log into the management interface.
The URL should be https://ip-or-fqdn-of-the-appliance:5480.
After log into the appliance navigate to the configuration page.All fields except the SSO password should already inserted.
Then, provide the SSO password and click on “Save and Restart Service”. If you have external PSCs in the environment make sure the “Lookup Service Address” is correct.
Next, accept the certification warning and configuration should complete successfully.
Finally, verify the service status of the appliance at the bottom of the configuration page.
Repeat the same process at target site to complete the configuration.
Then log into the vCenter Server. The site recovery plugin should have installed under shortcuts.
Click on the site recovery icon, both should list under Site recovery with vSphere Replication configured.
Expand the view to validate configuration.
Now we have successfully installed and completed the initial configuration for vSphere replication.
We will discuss about how to link two sites and configure/recover virtual machines in the next post.
