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Deploy an access node for VMware vSphere

Deploy an access node to provide data movement and infrastructure access for VMware vSphere data protection operations. Choose a deployment method based on whether the hypervisor is already configured and whether automated deployment is available.

For guidance about access nodes, see Plan your VMware vSphere deployment.

Supported operating systems

  • Oracle Linux 8.x, 9.x, 10.x

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.x, 9.x, 10.x

  • Rocky Linux 8.x, 9.x, 10.x

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022, or 2025 x64 Editions (Standard, Datacenter, and Core)

Requirements

Before you deploy an access node, verify that you have the following:

  • VMware vCenter credentials with the permissions required for VMware vSphere data protection operations.

  • For automated deployment or OVA deployment, you also need VMware vCenter permissions to deploy VMs by using Deploy OVF Template.

  • Network connectivity from the access node to the vCenter, required ESXi hosts, and storage.

Deploy the access node

Choose the deployment method that matches your environment.

Use this method when you're configuring protection for a new VMware vCenter Server.

  1. In the onboarding wizard, for Access node, click the add button.

  2. Select the operating system for the machine that you'll use as the access node:

    1. Download the Linux package.

    2. Extract the installation package, and then run the installation script, such as ./cvpkgadd, as the root user or by using sudo.

    1. Download the Windows package.

    2. Run the installation executable as an administrator.

  3. Enter the requested installation values, including the installation directory, firewall settings, and CommServe host name.

Use this method when the VMware vSphere hypervisor is already configured in Commvault. This is the recommended method for an existing hypervisor.

  1. From the Command Center navigation pane, go to Protect > Virtual machines.

  2. On the Hypervisor tab, click the hypervisor.

  3. On the Configuration tab, in the Access nodes tile, click Actions > Deploy new Linux access node.

  4. Enter a name for the VM, and then click Next.

  5. Select the destination compute resource, and then click Next.

  6. Select a deployment size, and then click Next.

  7. Configure the destination:

    • Destination network

    • Virtual disk format

    • Datastore

  8. Click Next.

  9. On the Customize template page, configure the access node:

    • Client name

    • Host name

    • Root password

    • Server group

    • Linux timezone

  10. Enable Automatic OS updates if required.

  11. Configure the network:

    • Enable Use DHCP, or specify the following static network settings:

      • Static IP address

      • Netmask

      • Gateway

    • DNS search suffix

    • Nameserver 1

    • Nameserver 2

  12. Configure the following additional network settings:

    • Network gateway hostname

    • NTP server hostname

  13. Click Next.

  14. On the Summary page, review the configuration, and then click Finish.

Use this method when you want to use an existing supported machine, standardize deployments, or prepare access nodes in advance.

  1. From the Command Center navigation pane, go to Manage > Infrastructure.

  2. Click the Access nodes tile.

  3. In the upper-right area of the page, click Add.

  4. For Vendor, select VMware vCenter.

  5. Copy the authentication code. You'll enter it during installation.

  6. Select the operating system for the machine that you'll use as the access node:

    1. Download the Linux package.

    2. Extract the installation package, and then run the installation script, such as ./cvpkgadd, as the root user or by using sudo.

    1. Download the Windows package.

    2. Run the installation executable as an administrator.

  7. Enter the requested installation values, including the installation directory, firewall settings, and CommServe host name.

Use this method when automated deployment from Commvault isn't available, internet access is restricted, or your vCenter access is restricted but you can use Deploy OVF Template.

If you don't have permission to use Deploy OVF Template, you can't deploy the OVA. Request this permission from your VMware vCenter administrator.

This method is also available for Commvault SaaS customers.

  1. Download the Linux access node OVA file for your environment.

    1. From the Command Center navigation pane, go to Protect > Virtual machines.

    2. On the Hypervisor tab, click the hypervisor.

    3. On the Configuration tab, in the Access nodes tile, click Actions > Add hypervisor.

    4. Download the Linux (64-Bit) OVA for your ring.

    Download the Linux access node and MediaAgent OVA file.

  2. In VMware vCenter, deploy the OVA by using Deploy OVF Template.

  3. During deployment, configure:

    • Compute resource

    • Datastore

    • Network

    • Host name and root password

    • Timezone and NTP

    • DHCP or static IP settings, including DNS

    • Registration with Commvault

    • Authcode

    For Commvault SaaS, copy the authcode from the Add a new Access node dialog.

  4. Power on the VM.

Verify the access node

After deployment, verify registration and connectivity before you use the access node for protection operations.

  1. Confirm that the access node appears under Manage > Infrastructure.

  2. In the hypervisor configuration, confirm that the access node appears under Configuration > Access nodes.

  3. Verify that the access node can connect to the vCenter, required ESXi hosts, and storage.

  4. If you might need to restore VMs when vCenter is unavailable, such as when you restore the vCenter VM, verify that you can access a restore destination without vCenter, such as a reachable ESXi host.

  5. Run a small test operation, such as a test backup or browse operation, to verify end-to-end access.

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