UDLA - VMware vCenter Server - Tasks

VMWare vCenter Server can be configured to store its event logs in a Microsoft SQL database. Collection from a Microsoft SQL database requires:

• Universal Database Log Adapter (UDLA) Log Source
• Requires a LogRhythm Agent to collect the logs
• Requires access to the Microsoft SQL database that VMWare vCenter Server uses for storing event logs

Prerequisites

Identify the following prior to configuration:

• The IP address and hostname of the Microsoft SQL Server Database server used by VMWare vCenter Server.
• The account login and password to be used by LogRhythm for accessing the VMWare vCenter Server log data in the SQL Server database.
• The LogRhythm System Monitor Agent that will be used to collect the logs from VMWare vCenter Server.

Configure VMware Server Center - Tasks

Make available an account that the LogRhythm Agent will use to access the Microsoft SQL database. We recommend using or creating an account that has read-only access into the tables required for collection.

Configure the ODBC Driver for VMware Server Center - Tasks

LogRhythm accesses VMWare vCenter Server logs via an ODBC driver. Before configuring the UDLA log source in LogRhythm, the recommended driver must already be installed on the System Monitor host and configured according to the information in Configure UDLA Log Collection.

• Name. SQL Server

• Company Name. Microsoft Corporation

• Version. 2000.85.1132.00

• Date. 4/13/2008

• Download Location. Pre-installed

After you configure the device, you must also configure LogRhythm according to the instructions provided on the overview page of this guide. You must use a LogRhythm System Monitor to collect the logs. The System Monitor does not need to reside on the VMWare vCenter Server server, but it must be able to establish a network ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) connection.

Only Global Admins or Restricted Admins with elevated View and Manage privileges can take this action.

Before you begin, download the VMWare vCenter Server Tasks XML Configuration File. You will import this file later to populate the UDLA configuration fields for the Log Source.

The name of the log message source is UDLA – VMware vCenter Server. In addition, when configuring this log source:hy65%%%%%"?

• For Log Message Processing Mode, select MPE Processing Enabled, Event Forwarding Enabled.
• For Log Message Processing Engine (MPE) Policy, select LogRhythm Default.
• On the UDLA Settings tab, enter the following:

  • Click Import, and then browse to and open the XML file that you downloaded from LogRhythm.

    In the Connection String box, you need to replace "DSN=vCenter;" with the correct DSN for your environment.

  • If you want to validate the current settings, click Test.
    If the test fails, verify the connection settings and that all values were entered correctly.
  • When the test passes, close the Test dialog box.