VMware Virtual Machine Installation and Connectivity

Turn-up of a Skylight orchestrator virtual machine requires deployment of the virtual machine on an existing VMware ESXi host. After the virtual machine has been deployed and started, you will be able to access its console, to perform the remaining configuration tasks.

This article explains how to install Skylight orchestrator as a virtual machine on an ESXi host and how to access the console of the virtual machine.

Requirements are determined by the size of the network. For details on virtual machine sizing guidelines, refer to Deployment Profile Configuration.

VMware Virtual Machine Installation

The procedure explains how to install a virtual Skylight orchestrator machine on a VMware ESXi host using the vSphere Client. Other ways of deploying virtual machines are possible but are not covered in this document.

If you would like to use another deployment method, consult the VMware documentation.

Procedure Requirements

• The VMware ESXi host must be connected to the network and powered on.
• You require root privileges on the ESXi host.
• You require a connection to a web browser.
• Obtain the following files from Accedian Technical Support and store them on your Windows computer:
  • SO_v23.12.1_15_vm_core.ova

• The ESXi host machine must meet the following requirements:
  • VMware ESXi 6.5 or greater
  • At least one network adapter
  • Sufficient disk, CPU and RAM to assign to the virtual machine. For virtual machine sizing guidelines, refer to Deployment Profile Configuration

Creating a Virtual Machine on the VMware Host

To create the virtual machine on the VMware host

1. Access the URL of your vSphere Client.

2. Log into the ESXi host by entering:
   User name: root
   Password: root user password
   

3. Click the Log in button. The vSphere Client opens.

4. In the Navigator, click Host, and then click Create/Register VM.
   

5. In the New virtual machine page, click Select creation type, and, from the list, click Deploy a virtual machine from an OVF or OVA file.
   

6. Click Select OVF and VMDK files.

7. In the text box, enter the name of your virtual machine.
   

8. Click in the box named Click to select files or drag and drop. Perform one of the following:
   a. Select your file: SO_v23.12.1_15_vm_core.ova
   b. Drag and drop your files into the box.

9. Click Next.
   

10. Click Select storage, and, in the list, click the storage you require.

11. Click Next.

12. Click Deployment options and then do the following:
    b. Beside Network mappings, select your VM network from the drop-down list.
    a. Beside Disk provisioning, click the Thick radio button.
    c. Beside Power on automatically, select the checkbox if you would like the VMware host to automatically start this virtual machine once it is deployed.
    

13. Click Next.

14. Click Ready to complete. This page is a summary of your settings.
    

15. To proceed with the creation of your virtual machine, click Finish.
    IMPORTANT: Wait until the virtual machine is created.
    IMPORTANT: Do not refresh your browser while your virtual machine is being created.
    

Starting the VMware Virtual Machine

To start the VMware virtual machine

You must be in the VMware vSphere Client.

1. Under Navigator, click Virtual Machines.
   

2. In the virtual machine list, locate the machine you require and see if it is running:
   Virtual machine is running
   Virtual machine is stopped

3. If the virtual machine you require is stopped, start it by doing the following:
   a. Select the virtual machine by clicking its checkbox.
   b. Click Power On.
   

4. Click on the console thumbnail to open the console of the virtual machine.
   After a short delay, a console opens and the login prompt is displayed. If you see a message (similar to the following) that says the system is Manually zeroing, it can safely be ignored.

5. When prompted for a username and password, enter:
   Username: visionems
   Password: visionems
   The virtual machine has been installed and is ready to be configured. To do so, refer to Initial Machine Configuration.

If you installed this machine as part of a Hot Standby Redundancy deployment, refer to Basic Machine Configuration. Otherwise, you can now perform the procedure Initial Machine Configuration.

Adding Network Adapters to Support Additional Ports/Interfaces

By default, the Skylight orchestrator virtual machine has one network adapter and one port. You can add an extra interface, as explained below.

To add a network adapter

1. Launch the VMware vSphere Client and log in.

2. In the Virtual machine list, locate the Orchestrator_Core.

3. Right-click on Orchestrator_Core and select Edit settings. The Edit settings page displays.

4. Click ▶ to the left of New Network Adapter.
   

5. In the New Network Adapter drop-down list, select your VM Network.
   

6. In the Adapter Type drop-down list, select VMXNEXT 3.

7. Click Save.

8. Click Finish.

After you have added the required number of hardware adapters, you can add interfaces to them as explained in Adding an Interface.