What to consider before you install vCloud Connector

Software and hardware requirements

VCC also carries several software requirements depending on how an organization deploys it. When vCC is deployed on vSphere, organizations require vSphere 4.0 update 3 or later. If an organization wants to use the vCC's "stretch deploy" capability on vSphere, it must use vSphere 5.1 or later. If vCC is deployed on vCloud Director, organizations require vCloud Director 5.1 or later. To use the stretch deploy capability on vCloud Director, organizations require vShield Manager 5.1.2 or later.

Remember that vCC requires several ports to be available. For example, SSL communication between vCC components requires port 443 -- although port 80 enables non-SSL communication between nodes. Port 8190 must be open on destination vCC components for user-defined type data transfers, such as when transferring data between a private cloud and public cloud. Admins must use port 5480 for administrative web consoles on vCC components. Security admins should review the port requirements and ensure that the necessary ports are available.

Admins install vCC as a plug-in under the vSphere client, so any host system capable of running vSphere and using Internet Explorer can also support vCC.

Always be certain to review the complete documentation for the latest available version of vCC to ensure that a data center meets all current hardware and software requirements.

VMware vCC availability and pricing

VCC 2.6 is available free of charge, and admins can download a vCC 2.7.2 server and node virtual appliances directly from VMware.

Version 2.7.2 is a security update intended to harden the kernel and address a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability. Version 2.7.2 updates 2.7.1 with no change in functionality. Admins can easily update by deploying new open virtualization format templates and then changing the vCC Server and vCC Node registrations with the vSphere client -- essentially pointing vSphere to the newer virtual appliances.

Virtual appliances come in .zip format; they're large files at almost 1.5 GB for the vCC Server file and nearly 900 MB for the vCC Node file. Plan appropriately for download time and storage. VCC users can also access release notes, documentation and knowledge base articles through the download page.