Depending on your host configuration and other things, you can actually virtualize VirtualCenter and it is supported by VMware.  We have done it in our environment because we have multiple hosts, have licensed the Enterprise Product, and want the same flexibility/protection provided by HA, DRS and Vmotion  on our  Virtual Center instance that we have with our other virtual machines.

I agree with Michael though, for a single ESX host, I can see little added value of bring VirtualCenter into the mix..

The actual VMware Hardware and Software Prerequisites for VirtualCenter 2.5 are as follows:

Hardware Requirements:
Processor - 2.0 GHz or higher intel or AMD x86 processor
Memory - 2gb Ram minum
Disk storate - 560mb min, 2 gb recommended
Networking 10/100 Ethernet adapter minimum (gigabit recomemended)
*May be run in a Virtual Machine

Software Requirements:
32-Bit version operating system only
Windows 2000 Server Sp4 with Update Rollup 1
Windows XP Pro SP2
Windows 2003 Server SP1
Windows 2003 Server R2

There is also the database storage for Maintaining Virtual Center inventory as well as the status of each VM and each managed host:
Databases supported:
- Oracle 9iR2, 10gr1 (version 10.1.0.3 and higher), 10gR2
- Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (Sp4 or Enterprise), SQL Server 2005 (Enterprise SP1 or SP2), Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express For less than 5 hosts.

Hope this helps.

- Al

>>> Troy Murray <[log in to unmask]> 12/5/2008 9:17 AM >>>
Andy,

I'm running a single ESX node, so I administer it using the VI  
client.  Do I understand correctly that if I use VirtualCenter then I  
wouldn't necessarily use the VI client to administer the server?  The  
Dell rep, Sergio, indicated you need a somewhat beefy system for the  
VirtualCenter to run, have you found that true?

-t



On Dec 4, 2008, at 5:24 PM, Andrew R Keen wrote:

>> I was wondering what VMWare server virtualization licenses were  
>> being used
>> campus and whether these were purchased through the Dell channel,  
>> direct or
>> from another source.
>
> At the HPCC, we have three ESX servers and VirtualCenter. We've  
> bought the
> licenses through Dell and Sun/Dewpoint. When obtaining VI quotes,  
> it's worth
> verifying that you're getting academic pricing as it is usually
> significantly less than commercial pricing (The VMWare part number  
> usually
> ends with -A for academic pricing.)
>
> -Andy

-- 
Troy Murray
Systems/Database Administrator
Michigan State University
Biomedical Research Informatics Core (BRIC)
100 Conrad Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: 517-432-4248
Fax: 517-353-9420
E-mail: [log in to unmask] 
AOL IM: troymurray72