This topic explains the vSphere resources you need to access when you run the examples provided in subsequent chapters.

To run the API examples shown in this book, you need access to a test installation of vSphere and a development workstation or virtual machine, including:
  • vCenter Server
  • Data center storage space to create virtual machines
  • A user role with permissions on vCenter Server that allow you to create folders and tag objects in the vSphere inventory.
  • A developer workstation, with space to download & install SDKs

The example code creates an inventory object folder and a tag for the folder. You can run these examples in your on-premises data center.

If you do not have a vSphere test environment readily available, you can easily create a test environment with VMware Cloud™ on AWS. Refer to the following documentation:

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Cloud-on-AWS/services/com.vmware.vmc-aws.getting-started/GUID-3D741363-F66A-4CF9-80EA-AA2866D1834E.html

If you are already a user of VMware Cloud on AWS, the following link takes you to a topic that discusses how to deploy a starter configuration containing a single host:

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Cloud-on-AWS/services/com.vmware.vmc-aws.getting-started/GUID-D976BC01-67D7-447B-9065-19092C6FEE62.html

Alternatively, you may be able to install vCenter Server as a virtual machine running on VMware Workstation™ or VMware Fusion®. This is not a supported feature, but some users have used the Open Virtualization Format Tool to set up test installations using the vCenter Server Appliance™ running on Workstation or Fusion. If you choose this method, the following links are helpful:

https://williamlam.com/2022/10/how-to-deploy-the-vcenter-server-appliance-vcsa-8-0-to-vmware-fusion-or-workstation.html

https://developer.broadcom.com/tools/open-virtualization-format-ovf-tool/latest/