VMware vCenter integration

This option enables communication between Acronis Backup & Recovery 11.5 Management Server and VMware vCenter Server. To access this option, connect the console to the management server and then select Options > Management server options from the top menu.

Integration is available in all Acronis Backup & Recovery 11.5 advanced editions; a license for Virtual Edition is not required. No software installation is required on the vCenter Server.

Integration provides the capability to:

• View virtual machines managed by the VMware vCenter in the management server GUI.

  The VMs and Templates inventory view appears under Navigation > Virtual machines.

• View the backup status of these machines in the vCenter Server.

  This information appears in the virtual machine summary (Summary > Annotations) or on the Virtual Machines tab for every host, datacenter, folder or entire vCenter Server.

• Automatically register virtual machines created by Acronis Backup & Recovery 11.5 in the vCenter Server inventory.
• Automatically deploy agents to the ESX(i) hosts managed by the vCenter Server.

  After you create a backup plan, an agent is deployed to each host or cluster whose virtual machines are included in the backup plan. Each host or cluster will take one license from the license server.

To enable integration of the management server with a vCenter Server

1. Click VMware vCenter integration.
2. Select the Enable integration with the following vCenter Server check box.
3. Specify the vCenter Server's IP address or name and provide access credentials for the server.

   This account will be used for deploying agents from the management server. This means the account must have the necessary privileges for deploying virtual appliances on the vCenter Server. We also recommend that the account have the necessary privileges for backup and recovery, because the agents will use this account to connect to the vCenter Server by default.

4. [Optionally] Select the Automatically deploy Agent for ESX(i) (Virtual Appliance) check box.
5. Click OK.

To enable automatic deployment of Agent for ESX(i) (Virtual Appliance)

1. Enable integration with the vCenter Server as described above.
2. Click Automatic deployment.
3. Select the Automatically deploy Agent for ESX(i) (Virtual Appliance) check box.
4. Specify the credentials that the automatically deployed agents will use to connect to the vCenter Server.

   Centralized backup and recovery tasks will run under this account by default. This means the account should have the necessary privileges on the vCenter Server. Otherwise, you will need to specify credentials for the account with the necessary privileges in every centralized backup plan or recovery task.

5. Click OK.

To disable integration of the management server with a vCenter Server

1. Click VMware vCenter integration.
2. Clear the Enable integration with the following vCenter Server check box.
3. Click OK.

   Result. Automatic deployment of the agent is also disabled. The virtual machines managed by the already existing agents remain on the management server. The backup plans that back up these machines continue functioning.

To disable automatic deployment of Agent for ESX(i) (Virtual Appliance)

1. Click Automatic deployment.
2. Clear the Automatically deploy Agent for ESX(i) (Virtual Appliance) check box.
3. Click OK.

   Result. Automatic deployment of the agent is disabled. Integration with the vCenter Server is preserved.