Install connector in VMware

VMware is a virtualization and cloud computing software provider. VMware bases its virtualization technologies on its bare-metal hypervisor ESX/ESXi in x86 architecture. It allows you to run multiple virtual machines on a single physical machine, with each virtual machine sharing the resources of that one physical computer across multiple environments. Different virtual machines can run different operating systems and multiple applications on the same physical computer.

VMware vSphere is a cloud operating system, or virtualized data center platform. VMware vSphere includes the following components:

  • VMware ESX / ESXi hypervisor. A type-1 hypervisor that functions as the virtualization server.

  • VMware vCenter Server. Manages vSphere environments.

  • VMware vSphere Client. Installs and manages virtual machines through the hypervisor. It allows you to deploy and export virtual machines, virtual appliances (a preconfigured virtual machine that typically includes a preinstalled guest operating system and other software), and vApps stored in Open Virtual Machine Format (OVF).

  • VMware VMFS. The file system component from VMware.

Create and download a connector in EAA

Create an Enterprise Application Access (EAA) identity connector and download the connector file to install in a virtual environment.

  1. Log in to EAA Management Portal.

  2. In the EAA Management Portal navigation menu, select Connectors.

  3. Click Add connector.

  4. Enter a connector name and an optional description.

  5. Select a Package type. The package type corresponds to the virtual environment where you are installing the connector. For example, if you are installing the connector on a VMware environment, select VMware.

  6. Click Save changes.

  7. Click Okay.
    The connector appears in Connectors.

  8. Select your connector card to check the status.

  9. When the download link is available, click Download.
    The connector file opens in a new browser window.

  10. Download the connector file and save it in a secure location. The contents of the connector .tgz file is required to set up the connector in the virtual environment.

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It may take some time before your connector file is available for download.

Next, install the connector in a virtualized environment.

Install the connector in VM

After you create and download a connector in Enterprise Application Access, you can install it in your virtualized environment (VM).

Connector footprint:

RequirementRecommended
ProcessorsIntel-VT, or AMD-V with hardware virtualization enabled four cores
Memory (RAM)8 GB
Storage16 GB
Network1 vNIC,1 GB/s, Static IP address or dynamic IP assigned from DHCP server, DNS
  1. Install your EAA connector VM in either vSphere, VMware Workstation, VMware Player, or Virtual Box. Follow the instructions from the Connector VM ready for deployment email.

  2. Return to your EAA Management Portal connector.

    1. In the EAA Management Portal navigation menu, select Connectors.

    2. Select your connector to open it.

  3. Verify that the connector shows the private and public IP addresses assigned to it.
    This may take a few minutes.

  4. Click Click here to approve and wait for verification.
    Message about connector running appears. Connector runs.

Next, deploy the connector.

Deploy the connector

Deploy a VMware vSphere Client using ESX or ESXi versions earlier than 6.5

Prerequisite:
To deploy a connector with ESX or ESXi versions earlier than 6.5, use the vSphere Client.

  1. Download the VMware connector from the EAA Management Portal.

  2. The connector downloads as a tar.gz file but the file extension may be incorrect in Microsoft Windows. Rename the tar file to tar.gz file. For example, rename <filename>.tar to<filename>.tar.gz.

  3. Extract the /agentdirectory.

  4. In the vSphere Client:

    1. Click File > Deploy OVF Template.

    2. Deploy the agent.ovffile from the agent directory.

    3. Make sure that the Open Virtual Machine Format (OVF) deployment completes successfully. Wait for the success message to appear.

Next, install the connector in VMware virtual machine.

Deploy a VMware vSphere Client using ESX or ESXi version 6.5 or later

To deploy a connector with ESX or ESXi versions later than 6.5, use the VMware Open Virtual Machine Format (OVF) tool from a command line interface.

Install and approve a connector in a virtual environment

After you create and download a connector in Enterprise Application Access, install the connector in your environment as a virtual machine (VM). Make sure you know the connector installation requirements before you install the connector. To install a connector you first determine your virtual environment, next install your connector in your environment.

After successful installation, the connector runs in your virtual environment. Return to the connector configuration card. A button labeled Checked in indicates that the connector is checked in.

To approve a connector click Approve. The connector status changes to Connector is running.

If your connector fails to check-in after five minutes, there may be a problem with its networking DHCP configuration or an outbound connection through your firewall or forward proxy. To learn more see Troubleshoot connectors.