VMware Cloud Foundation Lifecycle Management

A utility that manages the download and import of patches to VCF instances from a local offline repository.

A local repository on a web server holding patches and bundles for use by SDDC Manager in VCF.

A VMware Cloud Foundation component that utilizes the offline depot for patch management.

A pre-configured template for creating and deploying clusters with consistent settings and configurations in VMware Cloud Foundation.

The process of importing or exporting a vSphere Lifecycle Manager image into VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) for reuse across workload domains.

Using a pre-configured image to provision new or existing clusters in a workload domain, ensuring consistency across deployments.

Updating all hosts within a cluster using a vSphere Lifecycle Manager image, ensuring a consistent upgrade process.

Creating a package of image specifications, ISO, and ZIP files from a vSphere image for use in VCF (vCenter Cloud Foundation).

A metadata file containing details about the image, not the software itself.

An installable disk image (ISO) containing the ESXi software.

A compressed file containing all software packages within the image to be reused.

Uploading the exported image files into VCF infrastructure for use in managing hosts or clusters.

VMware's platform for managing software-defined datacenters in cloud environments.

Metadata on cluster configuration for importing into VCF.

VMware product for imaging and managing vSphere infrastructure.

Process of downloading the image specification, cluster settings, ESXi ISO and components bundle.

The process of building and configuring NSX network components within the VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle interface, including tier-0 and tier-1 gateway elements.

The process of setting up the VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle platform to support Workspace One, including certificate configuration and integration with Workspace One Access.

How to update the security certificate used by Aria Suite Lifecycle, ensuring a secure connection between the platform and other systems.

Defining a specific datacenter within the Aria Suite Lifecycle environment, providing details like location and name.

Integrating existing environments into the management of Aria Suite Lifecycle, requiring a previously created Lifecycle Manager (LCM) component.

Automatically deploying Application Virtual Network (AVN) components through the SDDC Manager, configured using NSX, and viewable but not modifiable within the SDDC Manager.

A necessary prerequisite for deploying AVNs. It's created and configured within SDDC Manager.

Configuring routing for local and cross-region segments in the VMware Aria Suite.

Essential for distributing traffic among VMware Aria components.

Local-region and cross-region network segments configured by AVNs for VMware Aria management applications.

A preferred network type utilizing NSX for automated tasks and features, enabling application failover across regions.

An alternative network type that supports static routing in environments not requiring overlay features.

A segment for the local region in a multi-region deployment.

A segment that supports application failover across different regions.

Necessary for dynamic routing in overlay networks, requiring configuration of upstream routers for network connectivity.

A component of NSX, managing network functions.

Patches deployed without interrupting services.

Table showing supported versions of components.

Command-line tool for running health checks in VCF.

Software appliance that manages the SDDC.

Comprehensive management stack for IT services.

VMware virtualization platform managing VMs.

Virtualization server running VMs.

Log files providing information about various functions.

An optional element added to a cluster image to provide a specific feature. For example, a network driver from a third-party vendor.

A collection of components customized for a specific family of servers. OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) create these add-ons to offer pre-configured solutions.

Firmware & Driver add-ons provide firmware and driver updates for specific server types. They contain the components necessary for these updates.

A tool to upgrade the components of NSX (Network Virtualization and Security) in your environment. It upgrades NSX Edges, NSX components on ESXi hosts, and NSX Manager.

A suite of management tools that helps you deploy and manage your cloud infrastructure. It includes Workspace One Access, VMware Aria Operations, VMware Aria Operations for Logs, and VMware Aria Automation.

A package containing the software necessary to deploy various VCF (VMware Cloud Foundation) components, such as VI Workload Domains and VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle.

A package containing software updates for key SDDC Manager, vCenter, ESXi, and NSX components.

Images created by an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) that include custom VIBs (VMware Installation Bundles) and drivers not found in standard ESXi images. These images are necessary when special hardware or drivers are required for specific machines.

The process of updating the components within a VCF workload domain (e.g., management, compute, network). It's a hierarchical process, starting with the management domain and moving to the other components.

Updates for hardware components, often requiring a Hardware Support Manager (HSM) which is a vendor-provided software module deployed and registered as a vCenter extension.

A temporary cluster is used during the image export process. This allows you to capture the configuration and components of a cluster without affecting any existing production clusters.

This option allows you to apply the same image to all the hosts within a cluster, ensuring consistent software and configuration across the entire cluster.

Once the image export is complete, the temporary cluster can be deleted, as the export has captured all the relevant information.

VCF 5.2 allows upgrading only the management domain and select workload domains without upgrading all workload domains, enabling flexible updates.

When upgrading workload domains, the order is always: 1) NSX, 2) vCenter, 3) ESXi Hosts. This ensures smooth transitions and avoids conflicts.

Before upgrading VCF, use the "RUN PRECHECK" feature to verify compatibility and identify potential issues, ensuring a successful upgrade.

Use the same NSX bundle for both management and workload domains during upgrades to maintain consistency across the environment.

The upgrade workflow includes NSX Manager, NSX Edge nodes, and host transport nodes, ensuring a complete and consistent upgrade.

Before upgrading VCF, verify that the Aria Suite is compatible, passwords and certificates are not expired, backups are taken, SDDC Manager is operational, and upgrade bundles are downloaded. These steps prepare the system for a smooth upgrade.

SDDC Manager allows you to leverage features of a new VCF release without having to upgrade the entire SDDC stack, enabling staged upgrades and improved flexibility.

The BOM represents the software versions used in VCF, including components like NSX, vCenter, and ESXi. It's important to be careful with BOM changes during upgrades to ensure compatibility and stability.

An Application Virtual Network (AVN) is a specialized network designed for VMware Aria Suite applications within a VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) environment. AVNs enable efficient and secure communication across different regions for these management applications.

AVNs are crucial because they provide a secure and flexible way to connect VMware Aria Suite management applications across different regions within a VCF environment. This allows for failover, mobility, and optimal performance.

There are two main AVN network types: overlay and VLAN-backed. Overlay networks use NSX and are preferred for automated tasks and failover across regions, while VLAN-backed networks rely on static routing and are suitable for environments without advanced features.

Local-region segments are used within a specific region of a multi-region deployment, while cross-region segments connect applications across different regions, enabling failover and mobility.

BGP peering is essential for dynamic routing in overlay networks. It involves configuring upstream routers to establish network connectivity with other networks.

NSX load balancers are used to distribute traffic across different VMware Aria Suite components, ensuring high availability and optimal performance.

An AVN deployment requires key components like NSX Edge Clusters, which are essential for managing and securing the network, and NSX Manager, which controls and configures overall network functions.

VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle automatically deploys AVN components through the integration with SDDC Manager, enabling comprehensive management and configuration.

SDDC Manager plays a vital role in configuring and provisioning AVNs. Although it doesn't allow direct modification of AVN settings, it allows for comprehensive visibility and control over their deployment.

AVNs provide numerous advantages for VMware Aria Suite, including enhanced security, flexibility, and mobility for management applications, ensuring operational continuity in various scenarios like planned migration, maintenance, or disaster recovery.

vSphere Lifecycle Manager is a VMware tool that automates tasks like upgrading ESXi hosts, managing VMware Tools, and installing third-party software. It streamlines the management of your vSphere infrastructure.

A vSphere Lifecycle Manager Image is a pre-configured template used for deploying consistent ESXi hosts in a cluster. It ensures that all hosts have the same software versions and settings.

ESXi Image Components are logical groupings of software packages called VIBs (VMware Installation Bundles). They are used by vSphere Lifecycle Manager to install and update software on ESXi hosts.

Vendor Add-ons are collections of components that are customized for specific server families. They contain drivers and software specific to a particular hardware vendor.

A Temporary Cluster is created during the export process of a vSphere Lifecycle Manager image to capture the configuration and components of a cluster without affecting production systems.

Mixed-Mode support allows upgrading only the management domain and select workload domains in VCF without upgrading all domains. This gives you more flexibility in managing updates.

SDDC Manager downloads patches from the offline depot to update VCF instances.

Export the image from vSphere and import it into VCF, or extract it from an existing workload domain.

1. Create an image, 2. Make it available in VCF, 3. Apply the image when adding new clusters, 4. Upgrade existing clusters using the image.

To create an image, you need a vSphere 7 or later environment with an empty cluster. Use it to manage either the Management Domain or VI Workload Domain or an external vCenter Instance.

To upgrade all hosts in a cluster using a Lifecycle Manager Image, ensure that the image is compatible with the cluster environment.

These add-ons provide firmware and driver updates for specific server types. They contain the necessary components for these updates.

SDDC Manager can access update bundles directly from the internet or through a proxy server if direct internet access is not available. It also supports downloading updates offline to a local depot.

By default, SDDC Manager checks for new update bundles every 5 minutes by communicating with depot.broadcom.com on port 443.

From VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2, SDDC Manager can authenticate with a proxy server to access updates.

SDDC Manager can directly connect to the internet to download updates.

Used as a gateway between SDDC Manager and the internet, allowing restricted access to the internet while maintaining security.

Broadcom's hosted service providing the latest update bundles for SDDC Manager.

DIA allows SDDC Manager to connect directly to the internet while a proxy server acts as a gateway, providing restricted, controlled access to the internet.

You export the image from vSphere using the vSphere Client and import it into VCF.

You need a JSON file containing the image specifications, an ISO file for the ESXi image, and a ZIP file with the image components.

You select the 'Manage All Hosts In the Cluster With a Single Image' checkbox in the VCF interface and apply the image.

It's created during the image export process to capture the configuration and components of a cluster without affecting any existing production clusters.

The correct order is always: 1) NSX, 2) vCenter, 3) ESXi Hosts.

It represents the software versions used in VCF, including components like NSX, vCenter, and ESXi.

VCF allows upgrading only the management domain and select workload domains without upgrading all workload domains.

NSX segments that utilize a virtual overlay network, providing flexibility for workload placement and decoupling the virtual network infrastructure from the physical network.

NSX segments that are backed by physical VLANs in the data center, offering a more traditional approach to network isolation but with NSX management.

Overlay-backed segments are preferred because they automate deployment with VMware Cloud Foundation, offer greater flexibility for workload placement, and enhance security and application mobility.

A cluster created during the export process of a vSphere Lifecycle Manager image to capture the configuration and components of a cluster without affecting production systems.

Export the image from vSphere using the vSphere Client and then import it into VCF.

A JSON file (image specifications), an ISO file (ESXi image), and a ZIP file (image components).

Overlay-backed networks use NSX and are the preferred choice for deploying VMware Aria Suite applications. They offer automation, flexibility for placing workloads, and enable failover across regions.

VLAN-backed networks use traditional VLANs for network isolation. They rely on static routing and are suitable for environments that don't need the advanced features of overlay networks.

A local-region segment is a network segment configured for the local region in a multi-region architecture. It's used for applications within a specific geographical location.

A cross-region segment is a network segment that spans multiple regions, enabling applications to fail over to different regions for high availability.

VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle automatically deploys AVN components through integration with SDDC Manager, making the process streamlined and efficient.

Log files located in the /var/log/vmware/vcf/lcm directory in the SDDC Manager appliance, providing information about various functions.

A detailed log file in the SDDC Manager appliance containing debug-level logging information.

A log file in the SDDC Manager appliance containing informational-level logging.

Now known as VMware Aria Operations for Networks, an analysis and optimization tool for network performance and troubleshooting.

SDDC Manager deploys the VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle appliance, enabling a comprehensive management platform for VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF).

NSX segments that use a virtual overlay network, offering automated deployment and flexible workload placement. They improve security and mobility of management applications, reducing integration effort with existing networks.

NSX segments that rely on physical VLANs for isolation. They're more traditional, requiring manual configuration during deployment and scaling.

Overlay-backed segments offer several advantages like automated deployment via VMware Cloud Foundation, increased flexibility in placing workloads, improved security and mobility of applications, and reduced integration effort with existing networks.

VLAN-backed segments require manual configuration during deployment and scaling operations. This leads to more time-consuming and tedious procedures, limiting flexibility compared to the automated approach of overlay networks.

VMware Aria Suite management applications are deployed within overlay-backed or VLAN-backed logical segments. These segments ensure security and isolation while allowing for efficient communication within the VMware Cloud Foundation environment.

The SDDC Manager graphical workflow allows you to patch multiple VCF components simultaneously. It validates target versions for compatibility based on the compatibility matrix.

Asynchronous patches are applied without interrupting services in VCF. They're accessible through a drop-down menu in SDDC Manager, updated automatically when new patch data is received.

Applying specific versions and patches during the upgrade process eliminates the need to apply patches after the upgrade and allows each domain to have a different combination of component versions based on workload requirements.

An analysis and optimization tool for networks. It's part of the VMware Aria Suite.

Setting up Workspace One Access with VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle involves configuring certificates and integrating with the service for secure user access.

The default password provided during initial installation of Identity Manager in Aria Suite Lifecycle. This password should be changed for security reasons.

An AVN is a specialized network designed for VMware Aria Suite applications, enabling secure communication between different regions for optimal performance and flexibility.

Overlay-backed segments in NSX utilize virtual overlay networks, offering flexibility for workload placement and decoupling virtual network infrastructure from the physical network.

SDDC Manager is a VMware Cloud Foundation component managing key tasks like deploying, configuring, and monitoring the SDDC. It works by downloading patches from a local repository called the Offline Depot.

The Offline Depot is a local repository on a web server storing patches and bundles used by SDDC Manager to update VCF instances. It's useful when direct internet access is unavailable.

You first export the image from vSphere and import it into VCF. You can then use it to add new clusters or upgrade existing clusters in your VCF environment.

Overlay Networks use NSX and are preferred for automated tasks and failover, while VLAN-Backed Networks rely on static routing and are suitable for environments without advanced features.

It allows upgrading only the management domain and select workload domains without upgrading all domains.

Overlay-backed segments are preferred because they automate deployment with VMware Cloud Foundation, offer greater flexibility for workload placement, and enhance security and application mobility.

This VCF option allows you to apply the same image to all hosts in a cluster, guaranteeing consistent software and configuration across the entire cluster.

SDDC Manager uses the offline depot as a source for downloading patches and bundles for VCF instances. This allows the SDDC Manager to maintain a local repository of updates and deploy them without requiring direct internet access.

You can either export the vSphere Lifecycle Manager image from vSphere and import it into VCF, or you can extract an image from an existing workload domain cluster in VCF.

The process of applying a vSphere Lifecycle Manager image involves four steps: 1) Create the image, 2) Make it available in VCF, 3) Apply the image when adding new clusters, and 4) Upgrade existing clusters using the image.

A vSphere Lifecycle Manager image includes the image specification (JSON), the ESXi image (ISO), and the image components (ZIP).

The two main network types in AVNs are overlay and VLAN-backed. An overlay network uses NSX and is preferred for automated tasks and failover across regions, while a VLAN-backed network relies on static routing and is suitable for environments without advanced features.

Creating a package containing the cluster settings, ESXi ISO, and components bundle to reuse in other VCF deployments.

Uploading the exported image files into VCF to make it readily available for cluster creation and upgrades.

An image created by an OEM that includes custom VIBs and drivers not found in standard ESXi images, used for specific hardware or drivers.

NSX segments that are backed by physical VLANs in the data center, offering a more traditional approach to network isolation but with NSX management.

Application Virtual Network.