vSphere Replication is distributed as an OVF virtual appliance. You must deploy the appliance at both of the primary and secondary sites.

About this task

Site Recovery Manager deploys the OVF file from the vCenter Server instance that Site Recovery Manager extends. The vSphere Replication OVF file is also available at C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware vCenter Site Recovery Manager\www\vSphere_Replication_SRM_OVF10.ovf on the Site Recovery Manager Server machine. If deploying the vSphere Replication OVF from the default location fails or is slow, you can also deploy it from Site Recovery Manager Server.

Prerequisites

  • You opted to install vSphere Replication when you installed Site Recovery Manager.

  • In the vSphere Client, go to Administration > vCenter Server Settings > Advanced Settings on the vCenter Server instance on which you are deploying vSphere Replication. Verify that the VirtualCenter.FQDN value is set to a fully-qualified domain name or a literal address.

Procedure

  1. Select vSphere Replication in the Site Recovery Manager interface.
  2. Click Deploy VR Appliance in the Summary tab.
  3. Click OK to start the Deploy OVF Template wizard.
  4. Click Next to deploy the OVF file from the default location.
  5. Review the virtual appliance details and click Next.
  6. Accept the default name and destination folder or provide a new name and folder for the virtual appliance, and click Next.
  7. Follow the prompts to select a destination host, datastore, and disk format for the virtual appliance.
  8. Set the appliance properties, and click Next.

    Option

    Description

    Password

    Type and confirm a root password for the appliance.

    Initial Configuration

    Use the embedded vSphere Replication database. If you use the embedded database, you can use vSphere Replication immediately after deployment. Deselect the checkbox to use vSphere Replication with an external database. If you use an external database, you must set up the database before you can use vSphere Replication.

    Networking Properties

    If you do not set network settings, the appliance uses DHCP. Set a static IP address for the appliance. You can also reconfigure network settings after deployment by using the virtual appliance management interface (VAMI).

  9. Review the binding to the vCenter Extension vService and click Next.
  10. (Optional) Select the Power on virtual machine check box and click Finish.

    If you deploy the vSphere Replication OVF file from the default location, the check box is selected automatically.

  11. Repeat the procedure to install vSphere Replication on the secondary site.

Results

When the OVF deployment finishes and the appliance has booted, vSphere Replication registers as an extension with vCenter Server. The vSphere Replication appliance appears under the site name in the vSphere Replication tab of the Site Recovery Manager interface. vSphere Replication is ready for use immediately after you deploy the appliance. No manual configuration or registration is required.

What to do next

Connect the vSphere Replication sites. You can also perform optional reconfiguration of the vSphere Replication appliance.