Installation guide

VMware, Inc. 9
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This chapter includes the following topics:
 “vCenter Server Heartbeat Concepts” on page 9
 “vCenter Server Heartbeat Switchover and Failover Processes” on page 13
Overview
vCenter Server Heartbeat is a Windows based service specifically designed to provide high availability
protection for vCenter Server configurations without requiring any specialized hardware.
vCenter Server Heartbeat Concepts
Architecture
vCenter Server Heartbeat software is installed on a Primary (production) server and a Secondary
(ready-standby) server. These names refer to the physical hardware (identity) of the servers.
Depending on the network environment, vCenter Server Heartbeat can be deployed in a Local Area Network
(LAN) for High Availability or Wide Area Network (WAN) for Disaster Recovery, providing the flexibility
necessary to address most network environments. Depending on the network environment and architecture
selected, vCenter Server Heartbeat can be configured where the Primary and Secondary server have the same
Principal (Public) IP address or where the Primary and Secondary servers share the Principal (Public) IP
address.
When deployed, one of the servers performs the role of the active server that is visible on the Public network
while the other is passive and hidden from the Public network but remains as a ready-standby server. The
Secondary server has a different Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) than the Primary server but uses the
same file and data structure, same Principal (Public) network address, and can run all the same applications
and services as the Primary server. Only one server can display the Principal (Public) IP address and be visible
on the Public network at any given time. vCenter Server Heartbeat software is symmetrical in almost all
respects, and either the Primary server or the Secondary server can take the active role and provide protected
applications to the user.
vCenter Server Heartbeat provides continuous access to the passive server simultaneously while the active
server continues to service clients allowing the passive server to be easily accessed for maintenance purposes,
updating anti-virus definition files, receiving operating system hot-fixes, updates and patches from
third-party management software, and allows use of third-party monitoring tools.
Protection Levels
vCenter Server Heartbeat provides the following protection levels:
Introduction
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