.. _vmware_requirements: ******************** VMware Prerequisites ******************** .. contents:: Topics Installing SSL Certificate ========================== All vCenter and ESXi servers require SSL encryption on all connections to enforce secure communication. If you see the following warning while using Ansible VMware modules [warning], you need to enable SSL encryption for Ansible by installing the server's SSL certificates on your Ansible control node or delegate node. ``` Unable to connect to vCenter or ESXi API at xx.xx.xx.xx on TCP/443: [SSL: CERTIFICATE_VERIFY_FAILED] certificate verify failed (_ssl.c:777) ``` then, this means you need to add/install SSL certificate of vCenter or ESXi server in your Ansible control node. The following instructions allow you to run your Ansible VMware modules with encrypted mode (viz. ``validate_certs=True``). Please follow the instructions depending upon your server to install SSL certificate. vCenter ------- * From any web browser, go to the base URL of the vCenter Server without port number like ``https://vcenter-domain.example.com`` * Click the "Download trusted root CA certificates" link at the bottom of the grey box on the right and download the file. * Change the extension of the file to .zip. The file is a ZIP file of all root certificates and all CRLs. * Extract the contents of the zip file. The extracted directory contains a ``.certs`` directory that contains two types of files. Files with a number as the extension (.0, .1, and so on) are root certificates. * Install the certificate files are trusted certificates by the process that is appropriate for your operating system. ESXi ---- * Enable SSH Service on ESXi either by using Ansible VMware module `vmware_host_service_manager `_ or manually using vSphere Web interface. * SSH to ESXi server using administrative credentials, and navigate to directory ``/etc/vmware/ssl`` * Secure copy (SCP) ``rui.crt`` located in ``/etc/vmware/ssl`` directory to Ansible control node. * Install the certificate file by the process that is appropriate for your operating system.