Dell VxRail Architecture Overview

Consider the following factors when you decide on the type of VMware vCenter Server:

Licensing

With the VxRail-managed VMware vCenter Server option, a standard VMware vCenter Server license is exclusive to this VMware vCenter instance and cannot be transferred to another VMware vCenter instance. Therefore, it should be considered a limited or restricted-use VMware vCenter Server license. You are responsible for licensing the customer-managed VMware vCenter Server.

Compatibility

The VMware vCenter Server instance that is bundled with the VxRail software and deployed during the initial build process is compatible with the VxRail software stack. The VxRail software stack includes VMware vSphere.

For VxRail 7.0.130 and later versions, VxRail Manager does not validate whether a customer-managed VMware vCenter Server is compatible with the VxRail software stack. To confirm that your customer-managed VMware vCenter Server is running the minimum compatible version before commencing the initial build, see the VxRail and Customer-managed VMware vCenter Server (External vCenter) Interoperability Matrix.

Deployment and initial configuration

The VxRail initial build process automates the deployment of the VMware vCenter Server and performs the initial configuration steps to support the VxRail cluster.

For VxRail 7.0.130 and later versions, this VxRail-managed VMware vCenter Server supports managing multiple VxRail clusters such as standard cluster, 2-node cluster, or stretched cluster from a single embedded VMware vCenter instance.

With the customer-managed VMware vCenter Server option, you are responsible for performing certain prerequisites before starting the VxRail initial build to prepare VMware vCenter for cluster activation and operations.

Lifecycle management

VxRail Manager orchestrates the life cycle management of the VxRail-managed VMware vCenter Server.

You are responsible for life cycle management of the customer-managed VMware vCenter Server. As per VMware best practices, the VMware vCenter Server instance is upgraded before performing life cycle management on a VxRail cluster. Follow the guidance in the VxRail release notes to identify the supported VMware vCenter Server version based on the target VxRail version. For best practice order for upgrades, see Overview of the vSphere Upgrade Process.

VMware vCenter Server migration

You cannot migrate a VxRail-managed VMware vCenter Server off the VxRail cluster, but you can migrate a customer-managed VMware vCenter Server to a VxRail cluster.

VxRail life cycle management does not support the upgrades of customer-managed VMware vCenter Server instances, even if relocated on a VxRail cluster. You are responsible for all upgrades and maintenance of this VMware vCenter Server instance.

Host management

A VxRail-managed VMware vCenter Server is restricted to only managing VxRail clusters and cannot support the addition of other ESXi hosts under its management. Lifecycle management can be disrupted because VxRail Manager has no visibility of these outside hosts.

There are no restrictions about placing additional ESXi hosts under the management of a customer-managed VMware vCenter Server.

Multihoming

VxRail-managed VMware vCenter Server supports only one public IP address, and cannot be configured to support High Availability.

There are no multihoming restrictions on a customer-managed VMware vCenter Server.

SSO domain

VxRail-managed VMware vCenter Server supports the vsphere.local SSO domain only. There are no domain restrictions with a customer-managed VMware vCenter Server.