After successfully deploying the vCSA virtual machine in Stage 1, Stage 2 handles the critical initial configuration of your vCenter Server. This guide walks through the complete configuration process to get your vCenter Server up and running.

Stage 2 Configuration Steps

1. Time Synchronization Setup

  • Enable NTP synchronization
  • Configure NTP server: 192.168.1.100
  • Important: Accurate time synchronization is crucial for vCenter Server operations

2. SSH Access Configuration

  • Enable SSH access
  • Security Note: While useful for troubleshooting, consider disabling SSH in production environments when not needed

3. Single Sign-On (SSO) Configuration

New SSO Domain Setup

  • Create new SSO domain: zerotohero.local
    • Note: This is intentionally different from Active Directory domain (zerotohero.dev)
    • Choose “Create a new SSO domain” for first-time installations
    • Select “Join existing domain” only if adding to existing vSphere environment

Administrator Account Setup

  • Username: administrator
  • Set secure password
  • This account becomes the primary vSphere administrator

4. Optional Settings

  • Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP)
    • Optional participation
    • Can be disabled for lab environments

5. Configuration Review

Verify all settings before proceeding:

  • Network Configuration
    • IP Address
    • Hostname
    • Gateway
    • DNS Server
  • Time Synchronization
    • NTP Server
  • SSO Configuration
    • Domain Name
    • Administrator Username

Accessing vCenter Server

Default Access URLs

  1. Main Start Page

    https://vcsa.zerotohero.dev:443

  2. vSphere Client Direct Access

    https://vcsa.zerotohero.dev/ui

Important Notes

Installation Time

  • Stage 2 typically takes 2-8 minutes
  • Time varies based on hardware specifications
  • Process must complete without interruption

Post-Configuration Tasks

After Stage 2 completes, you can:

  1. Access vSphere Client
  2. Create datacenter objects
  3. Add ESXi hosts
  4. Configure clusters
  5. Set up additional networking

Best Practices

  1. Document all configuration settings
  2. Verify successful completion of both stages
  3. Test access through both URLs
  4. Ensure time synchronization is working
  5. Verify SSO authentication

Next Steps

After completing Stage 2:

  1. Log in to vSphere Client
  2. Begin initial environment setup
  3. Add ESXi hosts to vCenter
  4. Configure datacenter and cluster objects
  5. Set up required networking configurations

Remember: Proper configuration during Stage 2 is crucial for the stable operation of your vCenter Server. Take time to verify all settings before proceeding with the final configuration steps.