VMware requirements and support

This topic describes the requirements and support for the VMware virtualization environment in IBM® Flex System Manager VMControl.

VMware ESXi hosts managed by VMware vCenter

The following diagram shows a virtualization environment with VMware vCenter managing VMware ESX and VMware ESXi hosts.

Diagram of VMware vCenter virtualization environment
  • IBM Flex System Manager is installed on a supported server.
  • IBM Flex System Manager VMControl is activated.
    Note: To launch the VMware Infrastructure Client or the VMware vSphere Client from IBM Flex System Manager VMControl, the client must be installed on the IBM Flex System Manager system and on any system that you use to log in to the IBM Flex System Manager web interface.
  • VMware vCenter is installed on an x86-compatible system.
    Note: IBM Flex System Manager and VMControl require that the Operating System (OS) that VMware vCenter is running on is an x86-compatible system with a Microsoft Windows-based OS.
  • VMware ESXi exists to host virtual servers that you can manage by using VMControl.
    Note: VMware ESXi is managed by VMware vCenter.
  • VMware vCenter system is discovered and request access task was completed. After the request access task completes, the Configure Access task shows the vCenter protocol in OK state.
    Note: If you installed VMware vCenter with a non-default port number, you must create a VMware vCenter Server Discovery profile by using the Discovery Profile wizard. Specify the unique port number in the profile that you create. Then, use the profile to discover the VMware vCenter system. For more information, see "Managing discovery profiles."

Supported versions

VMControl supports the following virtualization software:
  • VMware vCenter 5.x (capable of managing the following supported hosts)
    • VMware ESXi 5.x
  • VMware vCenter 6.0 (capable of managing the following supported hosts)
    • VMware ESXi 5.x and ESXi 6.0

For information about the latest fixes for required software, see "Minimum Fix Levels for VMControl Dependencies."

Supported storage types

  • VMware vCenter 5.x and vCenter 6.x support the following storage types
    • SAN storage
Restrictions:
  • VMControl does not support creating or editing virtual servers that might be using raw files or thin-provisioned disks.
  • VMControl does not support the discovery or inventory of thin-provisioned disks on hosts or virtual servers that are not created by using VMControl and contain or use raw files in the datastore.

Supported guest operating systems

VMControl supports the following guest operating systems in VMware environments:

  • Windows 2000
  • Windows 7 (32-bit)
  • Windows 7 (64-bit)
  • Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition (32-bit)
  • Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition (64-bit)
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 (64-bit)
  • Windows Server 2008 (64-bit)
  • Windows Server 2008 (32-bit)
  • Windows Vista (32-bit)
  • Windows Vista (64-bit)
  • Windows XP Professional (32-bit)
  • Windows XP Professional (64-bit)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 (32-bit)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 (64-bit)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux, version 4.0 (32-bit)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux, version 4.0 (64-bit)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux, version 5.0 (32-bit)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux, version 5.0 (64-bit)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux, version 6.0 (32-bit)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux, version 6.0 (64-bit)
  • Novell NetWare 6.x
  • Novell NetWare 5.1
  • Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 (32 bit)
  • Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 (64 bit)
  • Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 (32 bit)
  • Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 (64 bit)
  • Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 and 9 (32 bit)
  • Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 and 9 (64 bit)
  • CentOS, versions 4, 5, and 6 (64-bit)
  • CentOS, versions 4, 5, and 6 (32-bit)
  • Debian GNU/Linux 6 (64-bit)
  • Debian GNU/Linux 6 (32-bit)
  • Debian GNU/Linux 5 (64-bit)
  • Debian GNU/Linux 5 (32 bit)
  • Debian GNU/Linux 4 (64-bit)
  • Debian GNU/Linux 4 (32-bit)
  • Asianux 4 (64-bit)
  • Asianux 4 (32-bit)
  • Asianux 3 (64-bit)
  • Asianux 3 (32-bit)
  • Oracle Linux, versions 4, 5, and 6 (64-bit)
  • Oracle Linux, versions 4, 5, and 6 (32-bit)
  • Ubuntu Linux (64-bit)
  • Ubuntu Linux (32-bit)
  • Other 2.6.x Linux (64-bit)
  • Other 2.6.x Linux (32-bit)
  • Apple Mac OS X 10.6 (64-bit)
  • Apple Mac OS X 10.6 (32-bit)
  • FreeBSD (64-bit)
  • FreeBSD (32-bit)
  • IBM OS/2
  • SCO OpenServer 6
  • SCO OpenServer 5
  • SCO UnixWare 7
  • Serenity Systems eComStation 2
  • Serenity Systems eComStation 1
  • Other (64-bit)
  • Other (32-bit)

Supported tasks

In the VMware vCenter virtualization environment, you can perform the following tasks:
  • Create, edit, and delete virtual servers
  • Create a DataCenter or Cluster by using the Create Virtual Farm wizard
  • Add a host to a DataCenter or Cluster by using the Add host to farm function
  • Remove a host from a DataCenter or Cluster by using the Remove host from farm function
    Note: When you remove a vCenter operating system endpoint, all associated Virtual Farms (DataCenter or Cluster) must be removed manually. Otherwise, when you discover the host again, duplicate Virtual Farms will be added.
  • Relocate virtual servers
  • Put a host into maintenance mode
  • Remove a host from maintenance mode
Parent topic: Supported virtualization environments
Related tasks:
Managing discovery profiles
Related reference:
Minimum Fix Levels for VMControl 2.4.3 Dependencies