diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-govcsim.yml b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-govcsim.yml
index 2a27c545510..e557824d9b4 100644
--- a/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-govcsim.yml
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/ansible-test-govcsim.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 breaking_changes:
-  - ansible-test - The ``vcenter`` test plugin now defaults to using a user-provided static configuration instead of the ``govcsim`` simulator.
+  - ansible-test - The ``vcenter`` test plugin now defaults to using a user-provided static configuration instead of the ``govcsim`` simulator for collections.
                    Set the ``ANSIBLE_VCSIM_CONTAINER`` environment variable to ``govcsim`` to use the simulator.
                    Keep in mind that the simulator is deprecated and will be removed in a future release.
 deprecated_features:
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/ansible-test-cloud-vcenter/aliases b/test/integration/targets/ansible-test-cloud-vcenter/aliases
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0cd8ad209e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/ansible-test-cloud-vcenter/aliases
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+cloud/vcenter
+shippable/generic/group1
+context/controller
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/ansible-test-cloud-vcenter/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/ansible-test-cloud-vcenter/tasks/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..49e5c16aabb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/ansible-test-cloud-vcenter/tasks/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+- name: Verify endpoints respond
+  uri:
+    url: "{{ item }}"
+    validate_certs: no
+  with_items:
+    - http://{{ vcenter_hostname }}:5000/  # control endpoint for the simulator
diff --git a/test/lib/ansible_test/_internal/commands/integration/cloud/vcenter.py b/test/lib/ansible_test/_internal/commands/integration/cloud/vcenter.py
index ac576e1ec1a..ba98b1abbeb 100644
--- a/test/lib/ansible_test/_internal/commands/integration/cloud/vcenter.py
+++ b/test/lib/ansible_test/_internal/commands/integration/cloud/vcenter.py
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ from ....containers import (
     run_support_container,
 )
 
+from .... data import (
+    data_context,
+)
+
 from . import (
     CloudEnvironment,
     CloudEnvironmentConfig,
@@ -40,11 +44,17 @@ class VcenterProvider(CloudProvider):
             self.image = 'quay.io/ansible/vcenter-test-container:1.7.0'
 
         # VMware tests can be run on govcsim or BYO with a static config file.
-        # The simulator is the default if no config is provided.
-        self.vmware_test_platform = os.environ.get('VMWARE_TEST_PLATFORM', 'static')
+        # When testing ansible-core, the simulator is the default if no config is provided. This facilitates easier testing of the plugin's container support.
+        # When testing a collection, static config is the default if no config is provided.
+        default_mode = 'govcsim' if data_context().content.is_ansible else 'static'
+
+        self.vmware_test_platform = os.environ.get('VMWARE_TEST_PLATFORM', default_mode)
 
         if self.vmware_test_platform == 'govcsim':
-            display.warning('The govcsim simulator is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of ansible-test. Use a static configuration instead.')
+            display.warning(
+                'The govcsim simulator is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of ansible-test. Use a static configuration instead.',
+                unique=True,
+            )
 
             self.uses_docker = True
             self.uses_config = False