You can join a vCenter Server Appliance with an embedded Platform Services Controller to another embedded node during deployment of the vCenter Server Appliance.

Note:

You can join a vCenter Enhanced Linked Mode group after deployment by moving, or repointing, a vCenter Server with an embedded Platform Services Controller from one vSphere domain to another existing domain. See Repoint vCenter Server with Embedded Platform Services Controller to Another vCenter Server with Embedded Platform Services Controller in a Different Domain for information on repointing an embedded vCenter Server node.

For example, suppose you want to deploy two vCenter Server Appliance with embedded Platform Services Controller systems, and join the two nodes using vCenter Enhanced Linked Mode.

Note: Enhanced linked mode for vCenter Server Appliance deployments with an Platform Services Controller is not supported for Windows vCenter Server installations.

If you are deploying the vCenter Server Appliance nodes with the UI Installer:

  1. For Appliance 1, deploy the vCenter Server Appliance as an instance on ESXi Host 1. Synchronize the time settings with ESXi Host 1.
  2. For Appliance 2, deploy the vCenter Server Appliance as an instance on ESXi Host 1 and configure the time settings so that Appliance 2 are synchronized with ESXi Host 1. In stage 2 you select to join the vCenter Single Sign-On server of the deployed appliance on Machine 1. For specific instructions, see Stage 2 - Set up the Newly Deployed vCenter Server Appliance with an Embedded Platform Services Controller.

If you are deploying the vCenter Server Appliance nodes with the CLI:

  1. Configure the JSON configuration template embedded_vCSA_on_VC.json (or embedded_vCSA_on_ESXi.json) for Appliance 1 as an instance on ESXi Host 1. See Prepare Your JSON Configuration File for CLI Deployment for specific instructions on preparing the JSON configuration file.
  2. Deploy Appliance 1 by running the vcsa-cli-installer command. See Deploy a vCenter Server Appliance or Platform Services Controller Appliance by Using the CLI for instructions.
  3. Configure the JSON configuration template embedded_vCSA_replication_on_VC.json (or embedded_vCSA_replication_on_ESXi.json) for Appliance 2 as an instance on ESXi Host 1. Enter the hostname of the first embedded node in the replication_partner_hostname field in the sso section.
  4. Deploy Appliance 2 by running the vcsa-cli-installer command using the embedded_vCSA_replication_on_VC.json (or embedded_vCSA_replication_on_ESXi.json) file.