vCenter Server is a core component of VMware vSphere that centralizes host administration, offering some powerful features that simplify the management process. vCenter Server provides a single pane of glass for your environment and allows access to the installed hosts and their configurations.
To access the ESXi management area, select a host from the vSphere Client. Navigating from the available tabs, you can access the different configuration areas to set up the host matching the business requirements:
The ESXi host can be managed through vSphere Client
Let’s have a look at the main areas:
- Summary: This displays information related to the ESXi, such as resources in use, tags, global configuration, and so forth.
- Monitor: From this tab, you can track issues and alarms related to configuration problems and check the host’s performance information, tasks and events related to the selected host, and the hardware health, to keep the status of hardware components under control.
- Configure: From this tab, you can modify the host configuration. Storage configuration (storage adapters, storage devices), network settings (vSwitches, VMkernel adapters, TCP/IP), system components (host profile, firewall, security profile, and so on), and hardware changes can be done in this section.
- Permissions: Used to add permissions specifying users and roles.
- VMs: Shows the list of VMs and VM Templates registered in the selected host. Double-click on the object to access its configuration area.
- Datastores: Displays the list of attached storage, showing details such as status, type, storage capacity, and free space.
- Networks: Displays a list of virtual switches and distributed virtual switches configured in the selected host.