vCenter Server architecture

In order to understand how vCenter Server works, it is important to understand its architecture.

The vCenter Server architecture is made up of the following components:

• vSphere Web Client and vSphere Client: As discussed in the previous chapter, VMware offers both vSphere Web Client and vSphere legacy client to manage ESXi hosts and virtual machines. The vSphere legacy client can be used to connect directly to an ESXi host or to vCenter Server, but vSphere Web Client is used to connect only to the vCenter Server, not individual ESXi hosts.

  • The recommendation from VMware is to use VMware vCenter Server to manage ESXi hosts and virtual machines, and therefore use vSphere Web Client, as all the new features are available only through the use of vSphere Web Client. New customers should start with vSphere Web Client in any case, as VMware plans to give up the legacy client some day.

• vCenter Server database: It is the most crucial component of the architecture. It stores...