VMware VI-ENG-Q407-434 Manual

A SERVICE OF

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VMware, Inc. 13

Chapter 1 Introduction to VMware Infrastructure

ThemajorcomponentsofVMwareInfrastructureare:

 ESX Server–ESX Serverprovidesavirtualizationlayerthatabstractsthe

processor,memory,storage,andnetworkingresourcesofthephysicalhostinto

multiplevirtualmachines.

ESX Server 3installationincludesdocumentationintheformofmanpages

availablefromtheserviceconsole.See “InstallingVMwareESX ServerSoftware”

onpage 81.

 VirtualCenterServer–ThisserverinstallsonaWindowsmachine,eitherphysical

orvirtual,tocentrallymanageyourVMwareESX Serverhosts.The

VirtualCenter ServerallowstheuseofadvancedVMwareInfrastructurefeatures

suchasVMwareDRS,VMware HA,andVMotion™.

AVMwareSDKWebserviceisinstalledwiththeVirtualCenter Server.

See “InstallingVMwareInfrastructure

ManagementSoftware”onpage 71.

 VirtualCenterPlugins–Optionalapplicationsthatprovideadditionalcapabilities

andfeaturestoVirtualCenter.Generally,pluginsarereleasedseparately,installon

topofVirtualCenter,andcanbeupgradedindependently.Youcaninstallserver

componentsofpluginsonthesamecomputerwheretheVirtualCenter Server

resides,oronaseparateone.Aftertheserver

componentofapluginisinstalled,

youcanactivatetheplugin’sclientcomponent,whichenhancestheVI Clientwith

appropriateUIoptions.

Documentationprovidedwitheachpluginoffersinformationonhowserver

componentsofpluginsareinstalled.

Forinformationonhowtoinstalltheclientcomponent,verifywhichpluginsare

installed,and

howtodisableoruninstallpluginsthatyouarenotusing,seeBasic

SystemAdministration.