FAQ: Adding/configuring vCenter Server(s) as Data Source for the vRNI platform

Products

• VMware Aria Operations for Networks

Issue/Introduction

This article provides answers to frequently asked question on adding/configuring vCenter Server(s) as Data Source for the vRealize Network Insight (vRNI) platform.

Environment

VMware vRealize Network Insight 3.x

Resolution

What if I get the Request timed out message when adding vCenter Server using IP address?

1. Verify if the vCenter Sever IP address is reachable from the vRealize Network Insight Proxy VM.
2. Log in to vRealize Network Insight Proxy CLI.
   
   Use the ping command to ensure that the IP is reachable.
   Use the telnet command to ensure that vCenter Server is reachable on port 443.
   
   
3. If vCenter Server is reachable, retry adding vCenter Server.
4. If the IP address is not reachable, verify if the gateway is correctly configured from the vRealize Network Insight Proxy VM using the showconfig command.
5. If the gateway is incorrect, correct it using the setup command.

What if I get the IP/FQDN is invalid message when adding vCenter Server?

1. Verify if the IP/FQDN provided for vCenter Server is correct.
2. Verify if the FQDN is reachable from the vRealize Network Insight Proxy VM using the ping command.
3. If it is not reachable, verify if the DNS is configured correctly in the vRealize Network Insight Proxy VM using the nslookup FQDN and showconfig commands.
4. If the DNS is incorrect, correct it using the setup command.

What privileges do the vRealize Network Insight Platform require?

The vRealize Network Insight Platform requires vCenter Sever credentials with these privileges:

• Distributed Switch: Modify
• dvPort group: Modify

What if I get the User does not have required privileges error when enabling IPFIX in the vCenter Server Data source page?

To enable IPFIX, vRealize Network Insight requires vCenter Server credentials with these privileges:

• Distributed Switch: Modify
• dvPort group: Modify

Note: Ensure that the vCenter Server user has the required permission on the vCenter Server root folder and all of its child entities, including all folders and data centers.

How frequently is the data fetched from the environment?

vRealize Network Insight Proxy fetches data every 10 minutes from the environment.

How soon the analysis of data starts after adding vCenter Sever?

Analysis of data starts immediately after adding vCenter Server. Product UI shows partial picture of data within few minutes, which may take 2 hours to complete.

Note: Flow traffic data changes continuously and includes at least 24 hours of data in its analysis.

How to clean up IPFIX settings in vCenter Server if you have deleted the vRealize Network Insight OVAs?

Using the vSphere Web Client:

1. Go to Home > Networking > VDS (Name) > Netflow Settings.
2. Remove the vRealize Network Insight Proxy IP from Collector settings.

Using the vSphere Client:

1. Go to Home > Inventory > Networking > VDS (Name) > Edit Settings.
2. Remove the vRealize Network Insight Proxy IP from the Collector settings in the Netflow tab.
   
   Note: Preceding steps must be performed for each VDS in which IPFIX is enabled.

How to cleanup the IPFIX configuration in vRealize Network Insight?

1. In vRealize Network Insight UI, go to Settings > Data Sources.
2. Delete vCenter Sever.
   
   This removes the IPFIX configuration done by vRealize Network Insight.