List of recommended topologies for VMware vSphere 6.0.x (2108548)

Purpose

During installation or upgrading of vCenter Server 6.0, you can:

• Join a vCenter Server with an external Platform Services Controller to a Platform Services Controller.
• Join an external Platform Services Controller to a Platform Services Controller.

These join operations are intended for external Platform Services Controllers. However, the installer does not validate whether the Platform Services Controller is external or embedded with vCenter Server.

Even though many types of join operations are possible, not all resulting configurations are recommended.

This article discusses the possible join operation combinations with VMware recommendations.

Resolution

Recommended topologies:

These topologies are recommended:

Composition	Backup
1 Single Sign-On domain 1 Single Sign-On site 1 vCenter Server with embedded Platform Services Controller	Yes Backing Up and Restoring vCenter Server
1 Single Sign-On domain 1 Single Sign-On site 1 external Platform Services Controllers 1 or more vCenter Server with external Platform Services Controllers	Yes How to backup and restore vCenter Server 6.0 external deployment models (2110294)
1 Single Sign-On domain 2 or more Single Sign-On sites 2 or more external Platform Services Controllers 2 or more vCenter Server with external Platform Services Controller	Yes How to backup and restore vCenter Server 6.0 external deployment models (2110294)
1 Single Sign-On domain 1 Single Sign-On site 2 or more external Platform Services Controllers 1 or more vCenter Server with external Platform Services Controllers 1 third-party load balancer	Yes How to backup and restore vCenter Server 6.0 external deployment models (2110294)

Deprecated topologies:

Topologies that are deprecated and will be unsupported in the future. These topologies are not recommended:

Composition	Backup
1 Single Sign-On domain 1 or more Single Sign-On sites 2 or more vCenter Server with embedded Platform Services Controller	No
1 Single Sign-On domain 1 or more Single Sign-On sites 0 external Platform Services Controllers 1 or more vCenter Server with external Platform Services Controllers 1 or more vCenter Server with embedded Platform Services Controller	No
1 Single Sign-On domain 1 or more Single Sign-On sites 1 or more external Platform Services Controllers 1 or more vCenter Server with external Platform Services Controllers 1 or more vCenter Server with embedded Platform Services Controllers	No

Changing topology

Installations:

When performing one of these operations:

• Joining a vCenter Server with an external Platform Services Controller to a Platform Services Controller during installation or upgrading.
• Joining an external Platform Services Controller to a Platform Services Controller during installation or upgrading.

The installer displays a warning that these types of join operations cannot be changed after the installation or upgrading process. If you have deployed one of the topologies that are not recommended, the operation cannot be undone. You are required to re-install vSphere 6.0 using one of the preceding listed recommended topologies.

For more information about migrating ESXi hosts and virtual machine to an alternative vCenter Server instance, see:

• Moving a managed ESXi/ESX host from one VirtualCenter Server/vCenter Server to another Virtual Center Server/vCenter Server (1004775)
• Moving an ESXi/ESX host with vDS from one vCenter Server to another (1029498)

Upgrades:

There are several configurations of vSphere 5.1 and 5.5 that may be upgraded to one of the topologies that are not recommended. These include, but are not limited to:

• Two or more vCenter Server and vCenter Single Sign-On (SSO) services installed on the same machine on the same SSO domain.
• An environment with these servers on the same SSO domain:
• One or more vCenter Server and vCenter SSO installed on the same machine
• One or more vCenter SSO installed on a dedicated machine
• One or more vCenter Server on a dedicated machine

If you have one of the preceding vSphere 5.1 or 5.5 topologies, you may be required to do one of these options:

• Re-install the vSphere 5.1 or 5.5 using one of the recommended topologies in advance of the upgrade
• Install vSphere 6.0 using one of the recommended topologies listed above

For more information about migrating ESXi hosts and virtual machine to an alternative vCenter Server instance, see:

• Moving a managed ESXi/ESX host from one VirtualCenter Server/vCenter Server to another Virtual Center Server/vCenter Server (1004775)
• Moving an ESXi/ESX host with vDS from one vCenter Server to another (1029498)

 

Source KB:-

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2108548&src=vmw_so_vex_ragga_1012