Installing a VMM Agent Locally

When you add a virtual machine host or a library server in a trusted domain by using the System Center Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) Administrator Console, VMM automatically installs an agent on that managed computer using the default settings.

If a host is on a perimeter network or is not joined to a domain that has a trust relationship with the domain that the VMM server is in, you must install an agent locally on the host before you can add the host to VMM.

Before installing an agent locally on a host, ensure that all prerequisite software is installed, including Windows Remote Management (WinRM). For more information about software prerequisites for installing an agent a host, see Virtual Machine Manager System Requirements (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69926).

Note

When you install an agent locally on a host, the agent automatically starts the WinRM service.

For VMM to manage a host on a perimeter network, VMM needs to create a set of credentials to access the agent on that host. For more information about creating agent credentials, see Creating a Security File for Agent on a Perimeter Network.

You can also install an agent locally on a host in a trusted domain and then add that host by using the VMM Administration Console. No security file is needed for this operation.

Use the following procedures to install a VMM agent locally on a host. To perform this procedure, you must be an administrator on the computer.

To install an agent locally on a host on a perimeter network

  1. On the product DVD or network share, double-click setup.exe.

  2. On the Setup menu, click Install VMM agent locally on host.

  3. On the Configuration settings page, do one of the following:

    1. Click Next to accept the default port settings.

      Important

      It is a best practice to not use default settings.

    2. Type different ports, and then click Next.

      Important

      The port settings that you assign for the agent must identically match the port settings that you assigned for agents in the VMM server. For more information about assigning ports, see the "About Assigning Ports in VMM" topic (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=102100).

  4. On the Security File Folder page, select the This host is on a perimeter network check box, type and retype an encryption key, and then do one of the following:

    1. Click Next to store the encrypted security file that contains agent credentials in the default location.

    2. Click Change, specify a different location to store the encrypted security file, and then click Next.

      Important

      Make note of the encryption key that you use to create the security file. You must enter this key again when you are adding the host in the VMM Administrator Console.

  5. On the Host network name page, do one of the following:

    1. Click Next to have VMM contact the host by using its local computer name.
    2. Click Use IP address to have VMM contact the host by using its IP address, and then click Next.
  6. On the Ready to install page, click Install.

  7. Navigate to the folder where the security file is stored. The default location is %SystemRoot%\Program Files\Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine ManagerĀ 2007. The name of this file is SecurityFile.txt.

  8. Transfer the security file to a folder on the computer on which a VMM Administrator Console is installed.

  9. Add the host by using the Add Host Wizard in the VMM Administrator Console. For more information about adding a host on a perimeter network, see the "How to Add a Host on a Perimeter Network" topic in VMM Help (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=98818).

    Important

    After you have added the host to VMM, you should permanently delete the security file to reduce the risk of the encrypted account credentials being compromised.

To install an agent locally on a host in a trusted domain

  1. On the product DVD or network share, double-click setup.exe.

  2. On the Setup menu, click Install VMM agent locally on host.

  3. On the Configuration settings page, do one of the following:

    1. Click Next to accept the default port settings.

      Important

      It is a best practice to not use default settings.

    2. Type different ports, and then click Next.

      Important

      The port settings that you assign for the agent must identically match the agent port settings that you assigned for agents in the VMM server. For more information about assigning ports, see the "About Assigning Ports in VMM" topic (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=102100).

  4. On the Security File Folder page, ensure that the This host is on a perimeter network check box is clear and then click Next.

  5. On the Ready to install page, click Install.

See Also

Concepts

Installing Virtual Machine Manager
Installing and Configuring Virtual Machine Manager 2007
Creating a Security File for Agent on a Perimeter Network