VMware monitoring for vCenter and ESXi
Add your vCenter or an ESXi host as a device with a VMware login that has a read-only role, add one VMware check, and TarleyNode lists every host, virtual machine and datastore to monitor. Hosts and datastores are monitored automatically; you tick the virtual machines you care about.
What it checks
- VMware vCenter and ESXi hosts, virtual machines and datastores.
- Every host and datastore automatically, once one VMware check is added.
- The virtual machines you tick under Sensors, or every new one by itself with automatic discovery on.
- Each check’s history, with graphs from 1 hour to 1 year or a custom range, the highest and lowest readings marked and downtime shaded.
Set it up
- In vSphere, give an account a read-only role. A read-only vSphere role is enough.
- In TarleyNode, open Discovery › Credential profiles, choose Add and pick VMware vCenter or ESXi. Enter the User name, such as monitor@vsphere.local, and the Password.
- Optionally enter the Certificate SHA-256 fingerprint. When it is blank, the first certificate seen is trusted and later changes are refused.
- Add the vCenter or ESXi host as a device and assign the VMware login under Logins.
- Add one VMware check, for a host, a virtual machine or a datastore, by its name in vSphere. Every host, virtual machine and datastore is then listed under Sensors.
Alongside the rest of your estate
The same console monitors Hyper-V over WinRM, Proxmox, XCP-ng, Nutanix and others, and the switches and storage behind them over SNMP. Set dependencies, such as virtual machines behind a host, so only the host alerts when it fails.
Hyper-V is released; XCP-ng, Nutanix and Proxmox VE are in beta.
To check a busy host more often, open Edit device and set Check every, from 15 s to 1 h. Every check on the device moves to that interval, including checks added later by automatic discovery.
Questions
What permissions does TarleyNode need in vSphere?
A read-only vSphere role is enough. Credentials are encrypted at rest.
Should I add vCenter or each ESXi host?
Either. Add the vCenter or an ESXi host as the device, and the hosts, virtual machines and datastores it knows about are listed under Sensors.
Do I need an agent in each virtual machine?
No. TarleyNode reads vSphere through its API. To look inside a Windows or Linux guest, add it as its own device with a WinRM or SSH login.
Where are the VMware readings stored?
On your own TarleyNode server, like every other reading. Monitoring results and credentials are never routed through a TarleyNode cloud service.
Can I monitor Veeam backups as well?
Yes, in beta. With a login holding only the Veeam Backup Viewer role, Veeam backup jobs reports each job’s last result, and Veeam repository space warns when free space runs low. Veeam 12 or later is needed.
How does TarleyNode handle the vCenter certificate?
Pin its SHA-256 fingerprint on the login, or leave it blank and the first certificate seen is trusted, with later changes refused.
Related
TarleyNode is offered by invitation while it is new. Request a demo to try it on your own network.