What is the initial step for enabling VMware monitoring in Dynatrace?

The initial step for enabling VMware monitoring in Dynatrace involves configuring ActiveGate if it has not already been set up. ActiveGate acts as a crucial intermediary between Dynatrace and the monitored environment, facilitating the collection and processing of data. It is necessary for establishing communication with VMware and ensuring that data from the VMware infrastructure can be properly ingested into Dynatrace.

Once ActiveGate is configured, it can directly connect with VMware's API to gather performance metrics and other relevant data about the virtual environment. This step is essential before any further configurations or connections are made, including connecting Dynatrace to VMware or obtaining any tokens, as ActiveGate serves as the foundation for this monitoring setup. Thus, without initially configuring ActiveGate, the subsequent steps would not function correctly.