Step-by-step VMware Cloud Foundation 4.3 design and install vRNI Binaries

In my previous post Step-by-step VMware Cloud Foundation 4.3 design and install vRA we have completed deployment of VMware vRealize Automation, now only network monitoring part is left in our true sddc environment.

Well monitoring is very important for running anything efficiently. For virtual environment we have enabled monitoring with vRealize operations manager and in integration with vRealize log insight which takes care of logs management.

Not only compute and storage, but network is also virtualized with the help of NSX-T and needs to be monitored.

Now in order to monitor networking we need a solution, and VMware offers vRNI as a network monitoring tool, which not only monitors software defined networking but also extends monitoring ability for physical network devices all at one place.

VMware Cloud Foundation and vRealize network insight

As we know that VMware Cloud Foundation is a complete suite which is fully based on VMware Validated Designs and there is a strict compatibility matrix followed with each VCF version release. vRealize network insight is not part of VCF bill of materials yet, and with previous versions of VCF vRealize network insight was deployed in a traditional fashion/manually. If we wish to install vRealize network insight using vRealize lifecycle manager which you must have noticed in my previous posts/videos (its available), we need to upload the binaries manually or download directly from VMware portal. You will not find vRealize network insight bundle in SDDC manager bundle management for download.

Watch binaries upload video

How to download vRNI binaries?

1)    In order to upload first we need to download the binaries, and to download first we need to visit VMware Customer Connect portal and provide login information.

2)    Once you are logged in, navigate to Products and Accounts>>All Products.

3)    Now search for the version compatible with VCF complete stack.

4)    click on the product link and download platform and collector appliance OVA.

How to upload vRNI binaries to lifecycle manager?

1)    Now login to lifecycle manager using vcfadmin@local credentials.

2)    Click on lifecycle operations.

3)    Click on settings and choose binary mapping.

4)    Validate that vRNI binaries are not available.

5)    Login to SCP session with winscp and use root credentials for making connection.

6)    Accept the key presented.

7)    Now navigate to data directory of lifecycle manager.

8)    Start copying binaries to data folder by selecting and dragging them into data folder and wait for copy to finish.

9)    Now click on add binaries button which will open a pop-up window.

10)    On the new window, select the location type as local. Provide location path as data folder. click on discover.

11)    Now check the checkbox against the binaries we wish to upload and then click add.

Once validation and import is finished we will be ready for deployment of vRealize network insight. 

In my next post I will cover deployment of  vRealize network insight using vRealize lifecycle manager in VCF environment.

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