After you have deployed the installer OVA file, activate the HCX Cloud Manager and perform the initial configuration immediately when you next open the appliance management interface.

Note:

This procedure is for deploying HCX Cloud Manager in private clouds. For public cloud deployments, the HCX Cloud Manager deployment and activation is automated.

Prerequisites

  • The HCX Installer OVA is deployed in the vSphere Client. Allow up to five minutes after the installer OVA deployment for the services to initialize.

  • Configure firewall rules at source and destination sites to allow inbound and outbound connectivity based on the HCX services or features used. See https://ports.vmware.com/home/VMware-HCX.

  • Obtain the activation key. See Activating or Licensing New HCX Systems.

Procedure

  1. Browse to the appliance management interface and log in using the admin user credentials.
    Browse to https://hcx-ip-or-fqdn:9443.
    ""

    The Configure your HCX System screen appears, which includes a brief explanation of using the installer OVA to activate, configure, and set up the system.

  2. Click Continue.

    The activation screen appears.

  3. Enter the HCX Activation Server URL and the HCX License Key.
    The HCX Activation Server URL is preset to connect with VMware, but you must enter the HCX License Key. For information about obtaining a license key, see Activating or Licensing New HCX Systems.

    Activation screen displaying the Activation Server URL and a line below that for entering the HCX License Key.

  4. (Optional) If there is a proxy server in the environment in the path for outbound HTTPS connections, check Configure Proxy.

    If a proxy server is entered, add the local vCenter, ESXi, NSX, SSO, and HCX-IX systems as exceptions not to be sent to the proxy server.

  5. Click Activate.

    The system prompts you to confirm the deployment type. The system detects the deployment type based on the license key and displays a graphic illustrating the installation component.

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  6. Click OK.
    The system begins downloading and upgrading your HCX instance.

    The Manage License Keys screen appears.

  7. (Optional) If you have an HCX Enterprise License (upgrade) key, enter it in the HCX License Key field, and click Add.

    The upgrade license key is added to the license key table with the activation key. The table includes information about each license key and its duration.

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  8. Click Next.
  9. Observe the system download information.

    After you enter the license information and confirm the deployment type, the system begins downloading the image file that is specific to the deployment type. If upgrades are available, they are applied before the download. The download process can take several minutes depending on your environment. A display screen provides the download status.

    ""

    When the download is complete, the system reloads, and the login screen appears.

  10. To start the configuration wizard, log in to the system using the admin user credentials.

    The system location screen appears.

  11. Enter the location where you are deploying the system.

    Select the nearest major city to where the HCX system is geographically located. HCX sites are represented visually in the Dashboard.

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  12. Click Continue.

    A screen appears prompting you for a system name.

  13. Enter the system name, and click Continue.

    A screen appears prompting you to select the cloud instance type.

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  14. Select the cloud instance to which VMware HCX will be connected.

    The HCX can connect to only one cloud instance per deployment.

    Note:

    Kubernetes is not available for VMware HCX.

  15. Click Continue.

    A series of screens appears, prompting you for the selection details.

  16. Enter the configuration details for the selected cloud instance.

    After entering the information, click Continue to proceed to the next screen

    Cloud Instance

    Configuration Parameters

    vSphere

    1. vCenter Server and NSX details

      1. vCenter Server

        • vCenter URL

        • User name

        • Password

      2. NSX

        • NSX URL

        • User name

        • Password

    2. SSO details

      • vCenter Server or Platform Services Controller URL

    3. Public Access URL details

      • URL through which the HCX Manager is accessed.

        Note:

        This is typically the HCX Manager services UI: https//<hcx-mgr-fqdn-or-ip>.

    The system verifies the configuration and then displays a configuration summary screen. The summary information lists the Location, System Name, vCenter Server, NSX Manager, SSO information, and Public Access URL. The summary includes instructions to restart the HCX Application Service and Web service for the changes to take effect, and to configure vSphere Roles after restarting the services.

    ""

  17. To reload the system, click Restart.

    It can take several minutes to reinitialize the system completely. During this process, the appliance management interface is not available.

    After the system reloads, it displays the Appliance Management Dashboard. For more information about the dashboard, see Understanding the Appliance Management Dashboard.

    Management dashboard tabs: Dashboard, Appliance Summary, Configuration, and Administration.
  18. Configure HCX roles:
    1. In the appliance management dashboard, navigate to Configuration > HCX Role Mapping.
    2. Assign the HCX Roles to the vCenter User Groups that are allowed to perform HCX operations.
      By default, the HCX Administrator role is mapped to the local vSphere administrator group. For HCX Cloud Manager deployments, the system displays the optional HCX Tenant role, which is intended for use by HCX Service Providers.
    3. Click Save.

Results

The HCX Cloud Manager system configuration is complete.

What to do next

Deploy any additional HCX systems, and then go to "Activating and Configuring HCX Connector."