Creating a datacenter and adding an ESXi host to the vCenter Server Inventory using the vSphere Web Client

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides steps to create a datacenter and to add an ESXi host to the vCenter Server inventory using the vSphere Web Client.

Note: For more information, see the vSphere Installation and Setup Guide. This guide contains definitive information. If there is a discrepancy between the guide and the article, assume the guide is correct.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 5.1
VMware vCenter Server 5.1.x

Resolution

After installing vCenter Server and the vSphere Web Client, you can manage your vSphere environment using the vSphere Web Client.

Notes:

• vCenter Server 5.1 can manage ESX 4.x/ESXi 4.x and ESXi 5.0.x hosts in the same cluster with ESXi 5.1 hosts.
• vCenter Server 5.1 cannot manage ESX 2.x or 3.x hosts.

For more information on installing the vCenter Server and the vSphere Web Client, see:

• Installing vCenter Server 5.1 best practices (2021202)

To add an ESX/ESXi host to the vCenter Server inventory:

1. Log in to vCenter Server using the vSphere Web Client. To do this, use one of these methods.
   
   
   • In a browser, go to https://vSphere_Web_Client_host_name_or_IP:9443/vsphere-client.
   • From the Windows Start menu, select Programs > VMWare > VMware vSphere Web Client > vSphere Web Client.
     
     
2. Enter the login credentials for your vCenter Server system.
3. In the vSphere Web Client navigator on the left, select your vCenter Server system.
4. In the Getting Started tab, click Create Datacenter and enter an appropriate name.
   
   Note: You can add hosts to datacenter objects and not directly to vCenter Server objects.
   
   
5. Right-click the new datacenter object and click Add Host.
6. Enter the host name or IP address and click Next.
7. Enter the user name and password for the ESX/ESXi host and click Next.
8. Complete the Add Host wizard by accepting the default values.
   
   Note: You can monitor the progress of the Add standalone host task in the Recent tasks panel on the right side.

For more information on performing tasks using the vSphere Web Client, see the vSphere 5.1 documentation.