12.1.2 External Platform Services Controller
An external Platform Services Controller is typically suitable for customers with numerous vCenter Server instances who can reduce their footprint by sharing Platform Services Controllers across several vCenter Server instances and other Platform Services Controller enabled VMware products. Installing vCenter Server with an external Platform Services Controller has the advantages and drawbacks described in the following table.
Table 31. Advantages and Drawbacks to an External Platform Services Controller
Advantages to an External Platform Services Controller | Drawbacks to an External Platform Services Controller |
Fewer resources consumed by the services in the Platform Services Controllers. Because the Platform Services Controllers are not embedded with every vCenter Server instance, you are less likely to reach the maximum of 8 Platform Services Controllers per site. | The connection between the vCenter Server and the Platform Services Controller goes over the network, and is, therefore, dependent on connectivity and name resolution. If you install vCenter Server and the Platform Services Controller on Windows virtual machines, you will need more Microsoft Windows licenses. More virtual machines to manage. |
As we will see in the sample design that follows, it is not obligatory that a design consist of the same deployment types. It is perfectly possible to design a mixed environment, which consists of vCenter Server instances with both embedded and external Platform Services Controllers as well as both Windows and appliance-based vCenter Server and Platform Services Controller instances. As long as the Platform Services Controllers are in one vCenter Single Sign-On domain and replicate information with each other, when you log into the vSphere Web Client, you will see the inventories of all vCenter Server instances.