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Systems & Data Center · Foundational

VMware vCenter Server

The centralized management server for VMware vSphere that manages ESXi hosts, clusters, VMs and advanced features.

Definition

vCenter runs as the vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) and enables clustering features such as vMotion, HA, DRS, distributed switches and Lifecycle Manager. Enhanced Linked Mode joins multiple vCenters.

Example

Adding three ESXi hosts to a vCenter cluster enables HA and DRS.

Exam tip

HA continues to restart VMs even if vCenter is down, but DRS and vMotion require vCenter.

Related terms