Virtual Machine Installation (ESXi-Hypervisor)

12 min

You can install Belden Horizon Data Manager on a virtual machine using VMWare ESXi - Hypervisor.

The virtual machine that runs Belden Horizon Data Manager uses the system time of the host environment. To ensure that timestamps of collected data are as universal as possible, we recommend setting the system time of the host environment to the UTC timezone.

A typical Belden Horizon Data Manager virtual file for ESXi deployment adheres to the following naming convention: <product-2.2.2>.ova.

Refer to the following default login credentials when logging in the first time to different areas of Belden Horizon Data Manager (BHDM).

Terminal User Interface

Login/username: belden_setup
Password: VgkM3r#7VX

BHDM Web UI

Login/username: demo
Password: demo

BHDM Admin Console

Login/username: admin
Password: admin

Keycloak

Login/username: kadmin
Password: kadmin

Before You Begin

Configure the docker bridge network. By default, this installation allocates the subnet 172.17.0.0/16. Make sure that this does not conflict with your host environment network configuration.

Tip: To reconfigure the docker bridge network, please refer to this docker guide.

Set up proxies to access Belden Horizon Data Manager behind the company firewall.
Install ESXi v6.7 or higher. See VMware for more information.
Obtain a valid .ova file from Belden.

To use ESXi-Hypervisor to install Belden Horizon Data Manager, you will need to do the following.

Step 1: Install the Virtual Machine (ESXi-Hypervisor)
Step 2: Log in to the Belden Horizon Data Manager UI
Step 3: Verify Trial License and Register a Belden Horizon Data Manager License

To jump to a specific section, refer to the Table of Contents on the right side and click the corresponding step.

Step 1: Install the Virtual Machine (ESXi-Hypervisor)

You will first need to install the virtual machine that will run Belden Horizon Data Manager.

To install the virtual machine:

Start the VMWare application (for example, VMWare vSphere 6.7 hypervisor). The VMWare ESXi application appears.
Click Create/Register VM. The New virtual machine wizard - select creation type appears.
Click Deploy a virtual machine from OVF or OVA file, and then click Next. The New virtual machine wizard - select OVF and VMDK files appears.
From the right pane, enter a name in the Name field and select the .ova file. Then, click Next.
From the right pane, select the datastore, and then click Next. The datastore must have at least 80 GB of free capacity.
From the right pane, verify that the VM Network is set to your main Network port group (for example, VM Network). Then uncheck Power on automatically, and click Next.
Review the settings, and then click Finish.

The virtual machine deploys. The progress of the deployment is indicated at the bottom in the Recent tasks display. Deployment may take several minutes.

The virtual machine appears in the localhost pane.

The virtual machine starts up and the terminal window displays. Note the IP address required for login.

Tip: You can change your settings using the Terminal User interface (TUI).

To log in using the Terminal window, refer to the Default Login Credentials section above.

Step 2: Log in to the Belden Horizon Data Manager (BHDM) Web UI

After installing the virtual machine, you can then log in to Belden Horizon Data Manager using a browser.

To log in to BHDM Web UI:

Open a new incognito browser window, and paste the IP address into the URL field. The application initializes, and then the Log In screen appears.
Enter the default credentials. Refer to the Default Login Credentials section above.
Change your password to activate your account, and then click Submit. The Belden Horizon Data Manager application opens.

Note: You must change your password after the first log in.

Step 3: Verify Trial License and Register a Belden Horizon Data Manager License

After the Belden Horizon Data Manager is successfully installed, it will automatically be installed with a trial license.

To verify the trial license:

From the Navigation panel, select Settings. The Settings pane appears.
From the Settings pane, select Licenses.
From Licenses' Available Licenses section, view the license list. Initially, the device operates on a trial license.

You will eventually need to register a Belden Horizon Data Manager license once the trial license expires. To register a Belden Horizon Data Manager license, see Site and Node-Locked License Overview for Belden Horizon Data Manager.