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Set up virtualization monitoring

Note

This topic applies to VMware only. For other virtualization platforms, you only need to install OneAgent for virtualized host monitoring, as the monitoring of virtualization management layers isn't supported for platforms other than VMware.

Once DESK OneAgent is installed and process monitoring is activated on a virtual machine, you'll be able to see what's happening in your operating system—specifically, how your host-based processes behave and communicate.

Follow the steps outlined below to obtain crucial information related to the virtualization management layer of your VMware vCenter or standalone ESXi hosts.

Before you begin

What you'll need

  • An installed and configured ActiveGate.
  • Read-only vCenter server or standalone ESXi host credentials.

Install ActiveGate

  • DESK SaaS
    Install an Environment ActiveGate in your data center before connecting DESK to your VMware platform.

  • DESK Managed
    You can use the embedded ActiveGate running on the cluster node. However, typically the Cluster ActiveGate is used to forward data from RUM and/or Synthetic. We recommend that you don't over utilize this ActiveGate with another monitoring type (for example, VMware). Depending on the VMware size, you may consider a dedicated ActiveGate per each environment. In such a case, you should install a separate Environment ActiveGate.

    There can be only one

    If you choose to install and use a separate Environment ActiveGate, make sure to set the VMwareAgentEnabled parameter to false on all Cluster ActiveGates. See Configure ActiveGate.

  • Enable virtualization monitoring. Edit the custom.properties file of your ActiveGate and set the VMwareAgentEnabled property to true:

  [collector]
  VMwareAgentEnabled = true

Connect DESK to your VMware platform

To connect DESK to your VMware platform

Go to Settings > Cloud and virtualization > VMware and click Connect new instance.

Type the IP address or name of the vCenter server or standalone ESXi host you want to monitor (skip the http:// or https:// protocol prefix).

Note:
You may encounter a communication error even though the data you've provided is correct. This usually happens because the server can't be reached due to network/proxy settings. Therefore, it's recommended that you revise the network/proxy settings when adding a new VMware integration.

You can also bypass the proxy for connecting with vCenter or ESXi when configuring the VMware integration. Use the nonProxyHosts parameter configured in the launcheruserconfig.conf file to exclude specific host from proxy. See Setting up proxy for ActiveGate.

Enter the associated user credentials so that ActiveGate can log in and collect monitoring data. The required privileges for this user are view and read-only access. Administrator-level access is not required to enable monitoring (no changes to your VMware settings are required).

Note:
You don’t need to add ESXi hosts individually if they are managed by a vCenter server.

Click Connect.

To cover your entire virtual infrastructure, repeat this process for all other vCenter servers or standalone ESXi hosts in your environment.

VMware time synchronization

For DESK to properly display monitoring data, time settings on all monitored host environments and vCenters should be synchronized using an NTP server. Differences in system time can lead to missing VMware metrics.

To learn more about time synchronization across environments, see VMware documentation: