You can deploy the Skyline Collector using the Deploy OVF Template wizard in vCenter Server.

The Skyline Collector is available in the OVA format, and can be deployed in vCenter Server using the Deploy OVF Template wizard.

Prerequisites

  • Verify that you have met the System and Network Requirements.

  • Download the Skyline Collector OVA from here.

Procedure

  1. Log in to the vSphere Client with an account that has virtual machine deploy permissions.
  2. In the vSphere Client, select an inventory object that is a valid parent object of a virtual machine such as a , folder, cluster, resource pool, or a host.
  3. Click Actions, then click Deploy OVF Template. You can access the Actions menu by right-clicking on the selected object (, folder, cluster, resource pool, or host) or by selecting Actions in the top-center of the vSphere Client.
  4. Enter the URL or select Local File and Browse to the Skyline Collector OVA, and click Next.
  5. Enter a name for Skyline Collector and select a deployment location, such as a or folder, and click Next.
  6. Select a host, cluster, or resource pool from where to run Skyline Collector, and click Next.
  7. Review the template details, and click Next.
  8. Read the VMware End User License Agreement (EULA) and click Accept, then click Next.
  9. Select a location to store the Skyline Collector virtual disk files. Select the virtual disk format from the dropdown. The Skyline Collector supports thick provisioned lazy zeroed, thick provisioned eager zeroed, and thin provision disk formats.
    1. Select a VM storage policy, if applicable.
    2. Select the datastore, or datastore cluster, for where to store the Skyline Collector virtual disk files.
    3. Click Next.
    Option Description

    Thick Provision Lazy Zeroed

    Creates a virtual disk in a default thick format. Space required for the virtual disk is allocated when the virtual disk is created. Existing data on the physical device is not erased during creation but is zeroed out on first write from the virtual machine.

    Thick Provision Eager Zeroed

    A type of thick virtual disk that supports clustering features such as Fault tolerance. Space required for the virtual disk is allocated upon creation. In contrast to the lazy zeroed format, the data existing on the physical device is zeroed out when the virtual disk is created. Creating disks in this format might take much longer than creating other types of disks.

    Thin Provision

    Use this format to save hard disk space. For the thin disk, you provision as much data store space as the disk requires based on the value that you enter for the disk size. However, the thin disk starts small, and at first, uses only as much datastore space as the disk needs for its initial operations.
  10. Select a network that provides the appropriate network access as described in Network Requirements.
    1. Select a Destination Network from the drop-down menu for the Skyline Collector.
    2. Select a IP Protocol from the drop-down menu. The Skyline Collector supports both IPv4 and IPv6.
    3. Select Next.
  11. Customize the deployment of the Skyline Collector. Customization includes creating a root password and entering static IP address information (optional).
    1. A root password is required. The password must be at least 8 characters long.
    2. To run the Skyline Collector in disconnected mode, check the Run in disconnected mode (Tech Preview) checkbox.
      Warning:

      DO NOT USE unless directed by your VMware Technical Adoption Manager(TAM) or VMware Solution Engineer(SE).

      This will allow the Skyline Collector to run in disconnected mode, i.e. without communicating remotely with VMware Skyline Advisor.

    3. To configure a dynamic IP address, leave all networking properties empty. To configure a static IP address, enter the information specific to your network. The appliance must resolve the hostnames for vCenter Server, Single Sign-On authentication, and any additional products.
    4. Click Next after you finish customizing the template.
  12. Review the configuration data you provided for the Skyline Collector. Click Finish to complete the Deploy OVF Template wizard.

Results

The Skyline Collector virtual appliance will begin deploying in the vCenter Server. You can view the virtual appliance deployment progress within the vSphere Client - Tasks panel.