Resolving Site Recovery Manager Error “Unable to create protection group. No VRM registered with vCenter Server”

Just a quick note here about this error.  I felt kinda silly once I realized what I’d done.

Scenario:

1. Installed a vCenter Server at both sites
2. Deployed a vSphere Replication 6.1 appliance at both sites.  Connected each to its corresponding PSC and vCenter Server
3. Installed Site Recovery Manager 6.1 on each site, registered to corresponding vCenter Server
4. Complete mappings and basic configurations in SRM, confirm VR is available at each site

   

   SRM configured with VR

5. Attempt to create a protection group
6. Receive Error “Unable to create protection group. No VRM registered with vCenter Server …”
7. Google frantically

Its not clear from the documentation, but you have to configure at least one VM for replication using vSphere Replication section of Web Client first.  Totally counter-intuitive.  Just right-click the target VM and select “All vSphere Replication Actions | Configure Replication” and walk through the wizard.  Once complete, you can return to the SRM configuration and succesfully set up a Protection Group and subsequent Recovery Plan.

Handy VMKB for SRM & VR 5.1

VMKB 1009562  has a lot of good information, I’m not going to repeat it here, but it is a great resource for determining what network ports have to be open between what devices when using SRM & vSphere Replication.

Also, this diagram is surprisingly complicated… (reminds me of a dream-catcher)