1. Install vCenter Server on a host machine running Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2 or later
2. Deploy vCenter as Server Appliance (VCSA)
With vSphere 6.0, VMware is trying to avoid the dependency on Windows OS and making VCSA to have almost all features as Windows based vCenter Server deployment. Folloing table shows that with vSphere 6.0, the scalability of VCSA and Windows based vCenter Server is same:
So where are the difference; there are still base level difference Between vCenter Server Appliance 6 and vCenter Server 6 on Windows:
| Features | vCenter Server Appliance 6.0 | Windows based vCenter Server 6.0 |
| Installation | Does not come as a ova or ofv anymore. It’s a ISO based installation that uses a browser to complete the installation. Its require client integration plugins. | Can be installed on Physical or Virtual windows Machine |
| Operating System | Preconfigured Linux-based virtual machine | Requires 64 Bit OS and 64 bit DSN: Windows Server 2012 (64 bit) Windows Server 2008 SP2 (64 bit) |
| VMware Update Manager | Not Supported | Supported with Windows Install |