Adding a vCenter server

Add the VMware vCenter servers for which you want to provide storage resources through IBM Spectrum Connect.

Before you begin

Log out of any vSphere Web Client application connected to a vCenter server that you want to add to Spectrum Connect. If you stay logged in, you will be able to use the extension only after you log out and log into vCenter after the connection.

About this task

You need to connect to and add the vCenter servers for which you can later attach storage services that would be visible and accessible on the vSphere Web Client side. You can add a single vCenter server at a time, as described in the following procedure.
Note: For any vCenter server that you add, the IBM® Storage Enhancements for VMware vSphere Web Client (see IBM Storage Enhancements for VMware vSphere Web Client) are automatically deployed and enabled on the vSphere Web Client Server side.

Procedure

  1. Click Add Interface on the Interfaces pane and then select Add vCenter.
    The Add New vCenter Server for vWC dialog box is displayed.
    Figure 1. Add vCenter Server for vWC dialog box
    This image shows the Add vCenter Server for vWC dailog box.
  2. Enter the IP address or hostname of the vCenter server, as well as the username and password for logging into that vCenter server.
    If the provided IP address and credentials are accepted by the vCenter server, it is added to the list of servers on the Interfaces pane. The yellow frame and the exclamation mark indicate that the interface has no storage services delegated to it yet.
    Figure 2. Interfaces pane
    This image shows the list of vCenter servers available for vSphere Web Client.
    Note:
    • If you want to use the vSphere Web Client extension on all vCenter servers that operate in linked mode, each server instance must be added to Spectrum Connect. This ensures that the extension is registered on all linked servers properly.
    • The same vCenter server cannot be added to more than one Spectrum Connect instance. Any attempt to add an already registered vCenter server to another Spectrum Connect will override the primary connection.

What to do next

Attach storage services to the vCenter server, as explained in Delegating storage services to a vCenter server.