Book Image

VMware vRealize Configuration Manager Cookbook

By : Abhijeet Shriram Janwalkar
Book Image

VMware vRealize Configuration Manager Cookbook

By: Abhijeet Shriram Janwalkar

Overview of this book

VMware vRealize Configuration Manager (VCM) helps you to automate IT operations, manage performance, and gain visibility across physical and virtual infrastructure. It is continuously being used by enterprises to audit the configurations of the VMware infrastructure as well as the Windows, Linux, and UNIX operating systems. This book is filled with practical recipes through which you will learn about the latest features of vRealize Configuration Manager 5.8.X, starting with installation of various tiers of VCM followed by configuration management across physical and virtual servers. Throughout this book, you will explore how VCM can perform tasks such as patch management, compliance assessment, and software package distribution along with Machine filters for new platforms such as RHEL 7 and Windows 10. This book will ease your troubles while upgrading from the existing VCM to the latest version by providing you with step-by-step instructions about the process of migration along with upgrade and maintenance support. This book will help you understand how to integrate vRealize Configuration with other applications along with schedule management and also guide you on how to handle security issues. After reading this book, you will have a clear understanding of how VCM fits in the overall picture of the data center design from a patching and compliance perspective.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
VMware vRealize Configuration Manager Cookbook
Credits
About the Author
Acknowledgments
About the Reviewer
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
11
Understanding VCM Console

Preparing our VCM deployment - configuring SSRS


SSRS is used by VCM for providing the reporting functionality.

Getting ready

In this recipe, we will configure SSRS to be used by VCM; as this is not a dedicated SQL guide, it is recommended you consult your DBA team while configuring SSRS.

To avoid getting charged for multiple licenses of SQL, it is recommended you install SSRS on the same server as the database server, which is what we did when we installed SQL Server.

We will need SSRS installed on the database server before we start.

How to do it...

Connect to the database server with the service account credentials, launch Reporting Service Configuration Manager, and follow the wizard:

  1. Connect to the SQL Server instance where the reporting service is installed. Provide the correct server name and instance.

  2. On the Service Account page, in this case, use the same service account which will be used by the VCM service. Click on Apply.

  3. On the Web Service URL page, select port 80 and click on Apply.

  4. Under Database, click on Change Database and follow another wizard to Create a new report database. It involves these steps:

    1. Select Create a new report server database.

    2. Under Connect to the Database Server, provide these values:

      • Server Name: The SQL database server name

      • Authentication TypeCurrent User - Integrated Security

    3. Use the default database name and language.

    4. Under Credentials, use Service Credentials.

    5. Accept the summary, click on Next and then on Finish on the next page to complete the database creation.

  5. For the Report Manager URL tab, select Virtual Directory:  Reports and click on Apply.

  6. We don't need the rest of the parameters for VCM; you can check with your DBA team if they need to configure them and, if so, what the best options for you are.

  7. Write down the URL (we will need this when we install VCM).

How it works...

The report manager and web service URLs will be provided when we install VCM and will then be used by VCM to present reports via its console.

When we install VCM, the installer will create default reports on the SSRS instance that will be accessed by users when they start using VCM.