VCF 9.0 – (Beta) deployment step by step: Instant Guidelines

Kinshuk Tripathi

Author : Priyanka Matadh, Kinshuk Tripathi

1.    Planning & Prerequisites

Download all the required installable from Broadcom support portal

Install ESXi 9 image and make hosts ready.

Ensure all the DNS entries are in place.

Have the NTP inplace.

Fill the required IP and host FQDN in preparation workbook.

2. Install the VCF Installer Appliance (OVA)

  • Download the VCF-SDDC-Manager-Appliance OVA from Broadcom Support Portal.
  • In vCenter:
    1. Deploy OVA to a management host.
    2. Configure VM name, storage, networks.
    3. Assign network settings (IP, DNS, NTP, gateway) and Finish.

3. Access the Installer UI

  • Navigate to https://SDDCIP/FQDN and log in with admin@local using the password set during deployment.
  • Upload required VCF binaries into the depot.

4. Start Deployment Wizard

  • In UI, select Deploy a new VCF Fleet for greenfield installation.
  • Optionally skip VCF Automation initially and configure it later.

5. Management Domain Details:

  • Provide:
    • VCF version (9.0),
    • Fleet name and management domain name,
    • Deployment type,
    • DNS, NTP entries.
  • Configure VCF Operations (Aria)
  • Skip inserting VCF Automation (Aria) for now

6. Add vCenter and NSX Details

  • Enter vCenter FQDN/IP, credentials.
  • Configure NSX Manager cluster details (VIP and nodes).

7. Configure Primary Storage and vSAN Settings

  • Select vSAN ESA as primary storage.
  • Provide ESXi host list, root credentials, and assign networks (vMotion, vSAN, VM network).
  • Select appropriate vSwitch or Distributed Switch settings.

8. Update SDDC Manager Configuration

  • Enter SDDC Manager FQDN/IP, credentials).
  • Review and download the JSON spec file if required.

9. Validate and Deploy

  • Run built-in validations for:
    • Network connectivity,
    • Host readiness,
    • DNS/NTP accuracy,
    • Storage availability.
  • Once validation passes, click DEPLOY to begin automated provisioning.

10. Monitor Installation Progress

  • Track deployment logs and progress via the UI.
  • The wizard will:
    1. Deploy vCenter Appliance.
    2. Install NSX Manager/VIP.
    3. Create vSAN cluster.
    4. Deploy SDDC Manager, VCF Operations.

11. Post-Deployment Tasks

  • Verify:
    • Management domain health in VCF Operations.
    • Network and storage functionality.
    • Successful NSX and vSAN configuration.
  • Deploy and Configure VCF Automation now through the UI as we skipped it earlier.

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