How to Install and Configure Microsoft SQL Server 2012 for VMware vCenter Server 5.1 Update 1
Since vSphere 5.1 U1 it’s possible to install vCenter Server on Windows Server 2012. Also a Microsoft SQL 2012 is supported as an external database. Since the vSphere 5.1, the architecture of vCenter has changed and another database which name is Single Sign On is present. So there are three databases for vCenter: VMware vSphere 5.1 Single Sign-On VMware vSphere vCenter server VMware Update Manager All those database can be installed on a separate Microsoft SQL Server 2012 (this post) or on the same VM as vCenter server. SQL 2008R2 Express is still the database which is bundled with the VMware vSphere.