How to find vCenter Server's PSC

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

When troubleshooting or updating vCenter Server it is very important to know whether it is using an external Platform Services Controller (PSC).
There are no external PSCs in versions 7.x and newer
When rebooting the vCenter Server it is often best to have rebooted the PSC first.
When updating vCenter Servers, the PSCs must be updated first.

Environment

VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.0.x
VMware vCenter Server 6.0.x
VMware vCenter Server 6.7.x
VMware vCenter Server 6.5.x
VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.5.x
VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.7.x

Resolution

In vCenter Server 6.x GUI:

1. Log into the vSphere Client as a user with administrator access.
2. Select Menu > Administration > Deployment > System Configuration.
3. Select the vCenter Server object under the System Configuration window, select the Expand arrow ">".
4. If the Type column shows "vCenter Server with embedded PSC" there is no external PSC.
5. If the Type column shows "vCenter Server with external PSC" there is an external PSC.
6. In the section for "External Platform Services Controller" you can note the name of the external PSC device.

In vCenter Server Appliance 6.x command line:

1. Connect to vCenter Server command line via SSH or the vCenter VM console.
2. Run the command to find the type of node of vCenter:

cat /etc/vmware/deployment.node.type

• Embedded means there is no external PSC
• Management means there is an external PSC

3. If there is an external PSC, run the command to find the PSC name,

/usr/lib/vmware-vmafd/bin/vmafd-cli get-ls-location --server-name localhost

Additional Information

Determining replication agreements and status with the Platform Services Controller (PSC)