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Previous chapters of [[VMM 2008 Essentials]] have focused on the architecture and system requirements of Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 (VMM 2008). With those topics now covered, this chapter will move onto the task of the verifying that the system configuration of the target system is suitable for running VMM 2008 components and obtaining and installing VMM 2008.
== Verifying System Suitability for VMM 2008 ==
Select the VMM 2008 components which that are to be installed. If components are to be installed on systems other than the local system, enter the name of the remote systems together with any login and password credentials which will be needed by the analyzer to gain access. Once the configuration options have been specified, click on the ''Scan'' button to initiate the system analysis.
Once the scan is complete, the analyzer will load a report into a web browser window highlighting the areas which need to be corrected before the VMM 2008 installation may proceed. Correct the problems reported and repeat the scan until no problems are reported (typically indicated by a "No configuration issues found" message at the end of the report).
The menu beneath the ''Setup'' heading provides options to install each of the VMM 2008 components. For the purposes of this chapter, we will begin by installing VMM Server together with Microsoft SQL Express and the VMM Library on the local system. Begin this process by clicking on the ''VMM Server'' option on the Setup screen. Setup will copy a number of temporary files in preparation for the installation before displaying the ''License Terms'' screen. Read and accept the license terms before clicking ''Next'' to proceed to the Customer Experience Program options. Make the desired selections and click ''Next'' to proceed to Product Registration screen where a user and organization name need to be entered.
Once the registration information has been entered, the next screen will perform a hardware and system check to ensure that the the target system is capable of running the VMM Server component. Assuming the system meets the necessary requirements the system prerequisite checks will be reported as successful and the installation can proceed by clicking the ''Next'' button. In the event of a failure, correct the reported problem using the steps provided and click the ''Check again'' button to repeat the test.
The next screen requests a destination folder into which the VMM Server files will be installed. The default is ''C:\Program Files\Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008'', although an alternate location may be selected either by typing it into the text box, or navigating the file system graphically via the ''Browse'' button.
The ''SQL Server Settings'' screen allows the SQL Server database used by VMM Server to be specified. If no pre-existing SQL Server database is available for use, the option is provided to have the Setup program install a copy of Microsoft SQL Server Express on the local system. Alternatively, a pre-existing SQL Server installation, either on the local or a remote system may be specified. In this case, a pre-existing database and database instance may be selected, or a new database created.
== Installing the VMM Administrator Console ==
Although the VMM Server component performs most of the 'behind the scenes' work for VMM 2008, it is the VMM Administrator Console which makes it possible for users to manage and monitor virtual machines. In fact, until the VMM Administration Console has been installed on one or more systems, the VMM Server is of very little use.
The VMM Administrator Console is installed using the VMM 2008 Setup wizard. To begin the installation process, insert the VMM 2008 media into a drive, or launch the ''setup.exe'' executable from the downloaded VMM 2008 trial. When the main screen appears, click on the ''VMM Administrator Console'' option, read and accept the licensing terms and click ''Next''. If VMM Server is already installed on the system, the Windows Experience Improvement Program setting for the Administrator Console will be inherited from that installation. Click ''Next'' to perform the prerequisites check. If any problems are reported with the hardware or software configuration, resolve the problems and re-run the check. Once the check passes successfully, specify the installation location for the files associated with this component and click ''Next'' to configure the port which will be used to communicate with the VMM Server. The default is recommended unless the VMM Server has been configured to use a different port, in which case VMM Administrator Console must be configured to use the same port.
Finally, click ''Next'' to review the configuration settings, followed by ''Install'' to initiate the installation process. Once the installation process is complete, Setup will provide the options to check for updates, add a VMM Administrator Console shortcut to the desktop and to launch the Console when the wizard exits. Make the appropriate selections and click ''Close''.
Upon completion of the installation, the VMM Administrator Console will be available from the desktop (if the option was selected during the installation) and from the ''Start->All Programs->Microsoft System Center->Virtual Machine Manager 2008->Virtual Machine Manager Administrator Console''.
== Installing the VMM Agent ==
Any Hyper-V or Virtual Server based hosts which that are to be managed by VMM 2008 must have the VMM Agent installed and running. If VMM Server is installed on any of these hosts, the VMM Agent will already be installed. For any other hosts, VMM Agent will need to be installed before adding the hosts to VMM 2008.
The VMM Agent is installed using the VMM 2008 Setup wizard, launched either from the VMM 2008 media or the trial download. To initiate the installation, launch setup and select the ''Local Agent'' option. Read and accept the license terms, configure the installation folder and proceed to the Configuration Settings screen where the ports for communicating with the VMM Server components may be specified. Accept the default values unless VMM Server has been configured to use different ports. The Security Folder screen, specifies the settings for the storage of security files. These files are used by VMM 2008 to manage hosts which are not part of an Active Directory domain. If the host on which the agent is being installed is not part of a domain, set the ''This Host is in a Perimeter Network'' option, enter an encryption key as illustrated below and change the folder location if the default setting is not acceptable:
