VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2: The Ultimate Deployment Guide (Part 2)

Introduction

In Part 1 of this series, we covered the deployment of ESXi hosts, networking setup, and initial configurations required for VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 5.2. Now, in Part 2, we will focus on deploying the VMware Cloud Builder, initializing the VCF bring-up process, and configuring key components such as NSX-T, vSAN, and Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG). We will also go through post-deployment tasks, including setting up Edge clusters, configuring VMware Aria, and integrating with update depots.

Deploying VMware Cloud Builder

VMware Cloud Builder is the core deployment tool for bringing up a VCF environment. It automates the deployment and configuration of vCenter Server, NSX-T, vSAN, and SDDC Manager.

Step 1: Deploy Cloud Builder Appliance

  1. Download the VMware Cloud Builder OVA from the VMware Customer Connect portal.
  2. Deploy the OVA using vCenter or directly on an ESXi host:
    • Log in to vCenter and navigate to Deploy OVF Template.
    • Select the Cloud Builder OVA file and click Next.
    • Assign a name and select a compute resource.
    • Configure networking settings and ensure the correct VLAN is selected.
    • Complete the deployment wizard and power on the appliance.
  3. Access Cloud Builder Web UI:
    • Open a browser and navigate to https://<Cloud-Builder-IP>.
    • Log in with the default admin credentials.

Initializing the VCF Bring-Up Process

Once the Cloud Builder appliance is running, we can proceed with the VCF bring-up process, which includes deploying and configuring vCenter Server, NSX-T, vSAN, and SDDC Manager.

Step 1: Upload JSON Configuration File

  • The JSON configuration file contains network settings, credentials, and deployment parameters.
  • Upload the JSON file via the Cloud Builder UI.
  • Click Validate Configuration to ensure all settings are correct.

Step 2: Start the Bring-Up Process

  • Click Start Bring-Up to begin the automated deployment.
  • The process will:
    • Deploy vCenter Server.
    • Configure NSX-T networking.
    • Set up vSAN storage.
    • Deploy the SDDC Manager.
  • Monitor the deployment progress through the Cloud Builder UI.

Configuring NSX-T, vSAN, and Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG)

Step 1: NSX-T Configuration

  1. Verify NSX-T Manager deployment via the vSphere Client.
  2. Create Transport Zones and Uplink Profiles:
    • Go to System > Transport Zones and define VLAN & Overlay Transport Zones.
    • Set up Uplink Profiles for ESXi and Edge Nodes.
  3. Configure Tier-0 Gateway:
    • Add an Edge Cluster.
    • Create a Tier-0 Gateway for north-south traffic.

Step 2: vSAN Configuration

  1. Verify Disk Groups:
    • In vCenter, navigate to vSAN Cluster > Configure > Disk Management.
    • Ensure the cache and capacity disks are correctly assigned.
  2. Enable vSAN Services:
    • Configure Deduplication & Compression.
    • Set up Fault Domains if required.

Step 3: Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG) Deployment

  1. Enable Workload Management in vCenter.
  2. Deploy Supervisor Cluster:
    • Select an NSX-T backed network.
    • Assign Kubernetes namespaces and storage policies.
  3. Deploy Workload Clusters using TKG CLI or vSphere UI.

Post-Deployment Tasks

Setting Up Edge Clusters

  1. Deploy additional Edge Nodes for redundancy.
  2. Configure BGP or static routing for external connectivity.
  3. Verify NSX-T Edge connectivity to physical routers.

Configuring VMware Aria (formerly vRealize Suite)

  1. Deploy VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle Manager.
  2. Integrate with vCenter and NSX-T for monitoring and automation.
  3. Enable AI-driven insights using VMware Aria Operations.

Integrating with Update Depots

  1. Connect SDDC Manager to VMware Depot.
  2. Enable Lifecycle Automation to manage updates.
  3. Schedule regular patching to ensure compliance.

Conclusion

With VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2 fully deployed and post-deployment configurations complete, your environment is now ready for production workloads. You have a scalable, software-defined data center with integrated security, automation, and Kubernetes support.

In future posts, we will explore best practices for managing VCF environments, optimizing performance, and troubleshooting common issues. Stay tuned! 🚀