Learning vRNI 3.9: Part 1:Adding Data Sources in vRNI

By default when vRNI 3.9 is installed, it starts in the NSX assessment mode and in this mode you will only see option to add vCenter server as data source.

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If you click on Add Data Source, the only option available to you is to add vCenter, Infoblox and Netflow Collector.

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In order to add different data sources like NSX Manager or Cisco devices, you need to change the evaluation license and then click on “Switch to Full Product Evaluation” button available in the bottom right corner of vRNI homepage.

Once you have switched to full evaluation mode, you can add various data sources to analyze traffic flow, and generate reports. 

To add a new data source, go to settings page from gear icon menu and navigate to Accounts and Data Sources option.

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Click on Add Source button.

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Now you will see plenty of options available to be added as data source.

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Click on VMware vCenter to add vCenter to vRNI.

Select the Proxy VM from the list and provide IP/FQDN for target vCenter and the credentials via which vRNI will talk to vCenter.

Optionally you can also enable Netflow on the vCenter. 

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Hit Sumit button and the newly added vCenter will be visible in list now.

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Add NSX Manager

Click on Add Source button againand select VMware NSX Manager from the list.

Again select the appropriate Collector VM and the NSX Manager IP/FQDN and credentials to help connect vRNI with NSX. 

Click on Validate button to make sure provided credentials are valid and vRNI is able to talk to NSX Manager. 

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You can also chose to collect data from the NSX Controllers and optionally you can enable Edge data collection and IPFIX.

Hit submit button to complete the Add NSX Manager wizard.

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Let vRNI collect data for 24 hours or so and then you can view the alerts and any configuration issue popping up in vRNI dashboards.

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We will learn about vRNI more in upcoming post of this series.

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