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Every year, technology evolves at a breakneck pace. And 2025 is no exception! If you want to stay ahead, you need to know what’s coming next. I’m here to walk you through the emerging technology trends that will shape the IT landscape this year. Whether you’re deep into cloud engineering, managing VMware environments, or just love geeking out over the latest tech, this guide is for you. Let’s dive in and explore the innovations that will redefine how we work, build, and connect. What Are the Key Emerging Technology Trends in 2025? First off, let’s get clear on what’s trending. These aren’t just buzzwords. These are technologies that are gaining traction, proving their value, and transforming industries. Here are the top trends you should watch: Generative AI and Advanced Machine Learning Cloud-Native Technologies and Multi-Cloud Strategies Edge Computing Expansion Quantum Computing Progress Cybersecurity Innovations I’ll break each one down with examples and practical tips so you can start applying this knowledge right away. Data center server rack with blinking lights Deep Dive into Emerging Technology Trends: What You Need to Know Generative AI and Advanced Machine Learning Generative AI is no longer just a concept. It’s powering everything from content creation to code generation. Tools like GPT-4 and beyond are helping automate complex tasks, improve decision-making, and even assist in software development. How to leverage this trend: Experiment with AI-powered coding assistants to speed up development cycles. Integrate AI into your cloud workflows for smarter resource management. Stay updated on AI ethics and governance to ensure responsible use. For example, cloud engineers can use AI to predict infrastructure failures before they happen, saving time and reducing downtime. Cloud-Native Technologies and Multi-Cloud Strategies Cloud-native is the future. Containers, Kubernetes, and serverless architectures are becoming standard. Plus, companies are adopting multi-cloud strategies to avoid vendor lock-in and improve resilience. Actionable steps: Start containerizing legacy applications to improve scalability. Use Kubernetes to orchestrate workloads across multiple clouds. Implement cloud cost management tools to optimize spending. This approach aligns perfectly with platforms like VMware and AWS, which continue to innovate in hybrid and public cloud services. Cloud infrastructure dashboards on multiple monitors Edge Computing Expansion Edge computing is growing fast, especially with IoT devices flooding the market. Processing data closer to the source reduces latency and bandwidth use, which is critical for real-time applications. How to get started: Identify workloads that benefit from edge processing, like video analytics or autonomous systems. Deploy lightweight edge servers or use edge services from cloud providers. Monitor and secure edge devices rigorously to prevent vulnerabilities. This trend is a game-changer for industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and smart cities. How to Stay Ahead with These Trends You might be wondering, “How do I keep up with all this?” Here’s a simple plan: Follow trusted sources like the technology trends blog for expert insights and updates. Join communities and forums focused on VMware, AWS, Azure, Google and cloud tech to exchange ideas. Invest in continuous learning through certifications and hands-on labs. Experiment with new tools and platforms in sandbox environments before rolling them out. Collaborate with your team to share knowledge and build innovative solutions. Remember, technology moves fast, but with the right mindset and resources, you can turn these trends into opportunities. Person working on cloud architecture diagrams on laptop What These Trends Mean for Your Cloud Strategy Integrating these emerging technologies into your cloud strategy can boost efficiency, security, and innovation. Here’s what to focus on: Automation: Use AI and machine learning to automate routine cloud operations. Flexibility: Adopt multi-cloud and hybrid cloud models to avoid single points of failure. Security: Embrace zero-trust models and advanced threat detection to protect your assets. Performance: Leverage edge computing to reduce latency and improve user experience. By aligning your cloud initiatives with these trends, you’ll build a future-proof infrastructure that scales with your business needs. Embrace the Future with Confidence The tech world is buzzing with possibilities in 2025. From AI breakthroughs to smarter cloud architectures, the opportunities are endless. The key is to stay curious, keep learning, and apply what you discover. If you want to dive deeper, check out the technology trends blog for detailed guides and expert advice tailored to IT pros and cloud engineers. Let’s make 202 the year you master these emerging technology trends and lead your projects to success. Ready to get started? The future is waiting!

What’s Covered in This Blog Post? Step 1: Install Visual Studio Code Step 2: Install AWS CLI Step 3: Install Terraform Step 4: Install VS Code Extensions Step 5: Set Up AWS IAM Step 6: Configure Terraform to Create AWS VPC and Subnet Step 7: Verify VPC and Subnet in AWS Console Step 8: Destroy Resources Please Note: I've pasted the screenshots from my lab for your reference. Step 1: Install Visual Studio Code First, download and install Visual Studio Code for your operating system. It’s a lightweight, powerful editor that’s widely used for writing and managing scripts. While VS Code offers a rich development experience with extensions and syntax support, you can also use PowerShell or Command Prompt (CMD) for executing Terraform commands if you prefer a simpler interface. Step 2: Install AWS CLI Next, install the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI). This tool allows you to interact with AWS services directly from your terminal. Below is the link to download it: Download AWS CLI Step 3: Install Terraform Now, download Terraform from the official HashiCorp website. Follow the installation instructions specific to your operating system. The site provides installers and detailed setup guides for Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. Download Terraform After installation, verify it by running the following command: ```bash terraform -v ``` Step 4: Install VS Code Extensions To enhance your development experience, install the following extensions in VS Code: AWS Toolkit Terraform by HashiCorp These extensions provide syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and integration with AWS services. Step 5: Set Up AWS IAM Ensure you have an IAM user with programmatic access and necessary permissions to provision and manage resources. Follow the instructions and screenshots below: Go to AWS Management Console Navigate to IAM and create a user. Set permissions and create the user. Under Security Credentials, create an Access Key. Note: Make sure to save the generated Access Key and Secret Key for later use. Step 6: Configure Terraform to Create AWS VPC and Subnet Create a Terraform configuration file (e.g., `main.tf`) with the complete syntax you need. Here’s how to set it up: Run the command to configure AWS with your IAM Access Key and Secret Key: ```bash aws configure ``` Prepare your Terraform code for provisioning. Initialize Terraform with: ```bash terraform init ``` Apply the configuration with: ```bash terraform apply ``` Confirm the creation by typing "yes" when prompted. Below is the code I used to provision AWS VPC and Subnet: Step 7: Verify VPC and Subnet in AWS Console After applying the Terraform configuration, verify that your VPC and Subnet have been created successfully in the AWS Management Console. Step 8: Destroy Resources When you're done testing, you can clean up your resources. To delete the previously provisioned resources, run the following command: ```bash terraform destroy ``` Confirm the deletion by typing "yes" when prompted. Once the destruction is complete, verify from the AWS Management Console to ensure all resources have been removed. Conclusion With Terraform, you can automate AWS infrastructure efficiently and consistently. This hands-on guide helps you get started with IaC and lays the foundation for more advanced automation workflows. I hope this helps you on your journey! Good luck! By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to mastering Infrastructure as Code with Terraform. Enjoy the process, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!

Automate the deployment of HCX Manager and HCX Cloud using PowerCLI . In this blog post we'll explore how to use PowerCLI to automate HCX Manager deployment. Please note, there are some prerequisites & requirements for your local system to be ready/installed with before you can run this script. Please refer to the below table of contents for the same. Table of Contents: PowerCLI version & Module. Download HCX Connector & HCX Cloud OVA. Edite/Update the PowerCLI script with your required configuration & deployment details. Run the PowerCLI to automate the HCX Manager deployment, monitor the progress and validate post successful deployment. 1. PowerCLI version & Module:  PowerCLI 11.2.0 introduced a module that allows us to easily automate VMware HCX. To use and automate the HCX deployment from you workstation, make sure verifying the PowerCLI version & module installed on your workstation to meet the system prerequisite mentioned below for your HCX automation. PowerCLI 11.2.0 or above . Module: VMware.VimAutomation.Hcx Below is the screenshot from my deployment. 2. Download HCX Connector & HCX Cloud OVA: Visit https:// https://support.broadcom.com/ to download the HCX Connector and HCX Cloud OVA. You can download the HCX Connector from HCX Cloud Manager as well, once it is deployed in target location. 3. Edite/Update the PowerCLI script with your required configuration & deployment details: Kindly update the below PowerCLI with all the required details/values for your HCX deployment. Please note: Reserve/static network/ips for HCX Connector & Cloud, and make sure DNS records are updated for forward/reverse before you run the script for deployment. Script: You can copy and past, edit before you run this, as per your required details for deployment.    # Load OVF/OVA configuration into a variable $ovffile = "C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\hcx\connector.ova" $ovfconfig = Get-OvfConfiguration $ovffile # vSphere Cluster + VM Network configurations $Cluster = "vSphereClusterName" $VMName = "hcx-c-01a" $VMNetwork = "vNICName-mgmt" $HCXAddressToVerify = "hcx-c-01a.corp.local" $VMHost = Get-Cluster $Cluster | Get-VMHost | Sort MemoryGB | Select -first 1 $Datastore = $VMHost | Get-datastore | Sort FreeSpaceGB -Descending | Select -first 1 $Network = Get-VDPortGroup -Name $VMNetwork # Fill out the OVF/OVA configuration parameters # vSphere Portgroup Network Mapping $ovfconfig.NetworkMapping.VSMgmt.value = $Network # IP Address $ovfConfig.common.mgr_ip_0.value = "192.168.x.x" # Netmask $ovfConfig.common.mgr_prefix_ip_0.value = "16" # Gateway $ovfConfig.common.mgr_gateway_0.value = "192.168.x.x" # DNS Server $ovfConfig.common.mgr_dns_list.value = "192.168.x.x" # DNS Domain $ovfConfig.common.mgr_domain_search_list.value  = "corp.local" # Hostname $ovfconfig.Common.hostname.Value = "hcx-c-01a.corp.local" # NTP $ovfconfig.Common.mgr_ntp_list.Value = "192.168.x.x" # SSH $ovfconfig.Common.mgr_isSSHEnabled.Value = $true # Password $ovfconfig.Common.mgr_cli_passwd.Value = "PasswordForHCX" $ovfconfig.Common.mgr_root_passwd.Value = "PasswordForHCX" # Deploy the OVF/OVA with the config parameters Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green "Deploying HCX Manager OVA ..." $vm = Import-VApp -Source $ovffile -OvfConfiguration $ovfconfig -Name $VMName -VMHost $vmhost -Datastore $datastore -DiskStorageFormat thin # Power On the HCX Manager VM after deployment Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green "Powering on HCX Manager ..." $vm | Start-VM -Confirm:$false | Out-Null # Waiting for HCX Manager to initialize while(1) {     try {         if($PSVersionTable.PSEdition -eq "Core") {             $requests = Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://$($HCXAddressToVerify):9443" -Method GET -SkipCertificateCheck -TimeoutSec 5         } else {             $requests = Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://$($HCXAddressToVerify):9443" -Method GET -TimeoutSec 5         }         if($requests.StatusCode -eq 200) {             Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green "HCX Manager is now ready to be configured!"             break         }     }     catch {         Write-Host -ForegroundColor Yellow "HCX Manager is not ready yet, sleeping for 120 seconds ..."         sleep 120     } } 4. Run the PowerCLI to automate the HCX Manager deployment, monitor the progress and validate post successful deployment: Please note, I have mentioned below & shown screenshots only for HCX Connector However, you can use the same script to update the details with HCX Cloud and execute it to deploy HCX Cloud. HCX Connector FQDN: hcx-c-01a.corp.local HCX Connector IP: 192.168.x.x Below are the screenshots from my deployment, performed for validation & HCX deployment. You will need to connect to your vCenter by using the Connect-VIServer comdlet and then run the deployment script, find all the screenshots below for all the steps performed to automate the HCX Manager deployment. Now, if you go to your vCenter, can verify deployment has started showing up there. Below are the screenshots post successful deployment, verified health from vCenter, IP , DNS Name and nslookup for resolution. Now, try to login to HCX using port 9443 to perform further configurations. Example, I used " https://hcx-c-01a.corp.local:9443/ " With this, you now have your HCX Connector deployed successfully, and can proceed further with HCX Cloud deployment & rest of it's configurations. All the best.

This blog provides steps to clean up a failed task/workflow in VMware Cloud Foundation SDDC Manager. Find the failed task/workflow ID in the SDDC Manager UI. This can also be found from the various logs (depending on which type of operation it is) 1. Click on the failed task/workflow. Record the UUID in the URL field above. This is the ID of the task to be deleted. Log in to the SDDC Manager VM as the vcf user and then issue su - to switch to the root user. Issue a command similar to the following to delete the failed task/Workflow: curl -X DELETE http://localhost/tasks/registrations/ Validate that the failed tasks are removed from the SDDC Manager UI now. Further Reference Doc: How to remove a failed workflow in VMware Cloud Foundation

As businesses continue to embrace technologies, the demand for integrated and scalable solutions grows. VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9 marks a significant milestone in VMware’s private cloud management platform. VCF 9 provides a unified solution combining compute, storage, networking, and security into a single automated platform. In this post, we’ll dive into some key features and improvements in VCF 9, and why it’s set to transform modern data center operations. At VMware Explore 2024 in Las Vegas has unveiled & introduced VMware Cloud Foundation 9, making a significant leap forward that will streamline the transition from siloed IT environments to unified, integrated private cloud platform from the traditional siloed environment. VCF 9 will be  providing faster deployment, consumption, secure and cost effective a single unified private cloud management system easier than ever before.   Simplifying Modern Infrastructure Deployment and Operations   VCF 9 is with the goal of simplifying the entire IT infrastructure as a single unified system to provide businesses easier and simpler way to deploy, manange and operate infrastructure planform to meet the needs & demands of modern applications. It delivers a consumption-ready environment to enhance businesses' productivity & accelerate the time-to-market for new applications.     The Key points & highlights of VMware Cloud Foundation 9   Platform-Wide Integration in VCF 9   Enhanced VCF Import: Integrates VMware NSX and various vSAN topologies directly into VCF environments. Reduces downtime during migration, ensuring seamless integration and future-proofing of existing setups. Sovereign VCF Multi-Tenancy: Enables secure, isolated multi-tenant environments on shared infrastructure. Provides tailored governance and resource management, enhancing operational flexibility. Fleet-Level Operations and Security: Centralized management for all VCF deployments, improving visibility and control. Unified security configurations across the entire fleet reduce vulnerabilities and enhance compliance.       Compute Enhancements in VCF 9:   Let’s take a look at the new set of features coming in VCF 9 designed to support infrastructure demands: Advanced Memory Tiering with NVMe:  This feature optimizes memory management by offloading cold data to NVMe storage while keeping hot data in DRAM. This results in a 40% improvement in server consolidation, enabling businesses to run more workloads on fewer servers. Confidential Computing with TDX: Provides advanced security by isolating and encrypting workloads, ensuring data integrity and privacy at the hypervisor level. vSphere Kubernetes Service Enhancements:  VCF will include out-of-the-box support for Windows containers, direct network connectivity through VPC, and native OVF support, enhancing the flexibility and scalability of containerized applications.       Storage Capabilities with vSAN in VCF 9:   As we know VMware Virtual SAN (VSAN) is radically simple, hyper-converged storage for virtualized environments. Reduces the storage cost and complexity with vSAN, the premiere modern storage software for VMware Cloud Foundation and VVF. vSAN has been integrated in VCF for many years now, it’s been a staple of our private cloud deployment. So will be new and noteworthy in VCF9 as far as storage goes? Native vSAN-to-vSAN Data Protection with Deep Snapshots:  Offers near-instantaneous data recovery with 1-minute RPOs, providing robust disaster recovery and data resilience. Integrated vSAN Global Deduplication:  Reduces storage costs by 46% per terabyte compared to traditional solutions, thanks to efficient data deduplication across clusters. vSAN ESA Stretched Site Recovery:  Ensures business continuity by maintaining operations and data availability even during dual-site failures, supporting critical applications with stretched cluster architecture.       The Power Of Integrated Networking in VCF 9:   Now, we cover networking. Having a network fabric that spans your entire private cloud, effortlessly, performant and deliver on the connectivity demands of your workloads is key. And that is where NSX sits in our VCF9 story. Let’s take a look at some of the innovations: Native VPCs in vCenter and VCF Automation:  Simplifies the creation and management of secure, isolated networks, reducing the complexity and time required to set up virtual networks. High-Performance Network Switching with NSX Enhanced Data Path:  Delivers up to 3x the switching performance, meeting the demands of modern, data-intensive applications and reducing network latency. Easy Transition from VLAN to VPC:  Streamlines the migration from traditional VLAN-based networks to VPCs, simplifying network management and improving security.       Conclusion   VMware Cloud Foundation 9 is designed to offer organizations a more flexible, scalable, and secure private cloud infrastructure platform. It focus on automated deployment, lifecycle management, modern workloads, flexibility, and advanced security make it a compelling choice for enterprises looking to optimize their cloud environments.   By adopting VCF 9, businesses can benefit from improved operational efficiency, simplified management, and enhanced security, all while future-proofing their IT infrastructure to handle emerging technologies like containers and hybrid clouds.   Stay tuned for further posts where we’ll dive deeper into specific features and how to make the most of VMware Cloud Foundation 9 in an organization.

You can create an NFS file share by using either Server Manager UI or Windows PowerShell NFS cmdlets. Here we're going to use Server Manager UI. Pre-requisites: Open Server Manager, and go to Roles and Features Wizard to add " File Server " and " Server for NFS " 1. Sign in to the server as a member of the local Administrators 2. Server Manager starts automatically, if not then start Server Manager 3. On the left, select File and Storage Services, then select Shares 4. Under the Shares column, select To create a file share 5. I am using Quick, you can use based on your requirement 6. On the Share Name page, enter a name for the new share, then select Next. I already had an existing folder created so using that one. 7. On the Authentication page, specify the authentication method you want to use, then select Next 8. The Add Permissions 9. On the Confirmation page, review your configuration, and select Create to create the NFS file share The share was successfully created PowerShell cmdlet way: The following Windows PowerShell cmdlet can also create an NFS file share (in below example, where nfs1 is the name of the share and C:\\shares\\nfsfolder is the file path): New-NfsShare -Name nfs1 -Path C:\shares\nfsfolder

This article describes how to manually install/upgrade a VMware ESXi host from the command line using the esxcli tool. There are two ways, you can upgrade host either "Online mode" or "Offline mode", here we will be using "Offline mode". Current ESXi version: VMware ESXi, 8.0.2, 22380479 Target ESXi version: VMware ESXi, 8.0.3, 24022510 Current ESXi host version verification before upgrade: If you want to find out the installation (update) date of the ESXi image, can use the command esxcli software vib list | grep 'Install\|esx-base' Lets Now Start the ESXi Host Upgrade Pre-requisites & CLI upgrade using "Offline Mode": Download the offline ESXi bundle ZIP file, and upload it to Datastore Put the host into maintenance mode List the profiles available in the image file esxcli software sources profile list --depot /vmfs/volumes/671fbe6e-1fb53a43-5eb1-005056012700/VMware-ESXi-8.0U3-24022510-depot.zip Run the CLI to perform ESXi host upgrade now Upon succesful upgrade message that you see in CLI, a reboot will be required. Perform a reboot esxcli software profile update --depot /vmfs/volumes/671fbe6e-1fb53a43-5eb1-005056012700/VMware-ESXi-8.0U3-24022510-depot.zip --profile ESXi-8.0U3-24022510-standard Verification post ESXi Host upgrade: CLI way verification: esxcli software vib list | grep 'Install\|esx-base' vCenter UI verification: With this, you've now successfully upgraded the ESXi host, remove this from maintenancem mode back to cluster for operation use. Further Reference guide: Upgrade or Update a Host with Image Profiles

VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 5.2 introduces several enhancements aimed at improving operational efficiency, Lifecycle Management, Independent upgrades for SDDC Manager, flexible patching strategies, and a new graphical interface for patching simplify the management and maintenance of cloud environments. This article provides a comprehensive overview of these advancements and their implications for the future of cloud operations. Infrastructure Platform Enhancement & Modernization: VCF Import: This feature allows for seamless integration of existing vSphere, vSAN, VMFSoFC, and NFS environments into VCF. It supports flexible networking options and ensures reduced downtime, simplified migration of vSphere environment to VCF , and enhanced system reliability. Independent TKG Service: Decoupled from vCenter Server, this significant change means customer can independently upgrade the TKG service without having to upgrade vCenter server. Now, can get to new Kubernetes versions faster than ever before. Flexible Edges: It enables businesses to provide edge infrastructure everywhere, spread beyond data centers to the sites where data is produced and consumed more, placing edges near to users or sites with enhanced performance, efficiency, and security. Network & Security Enhancement: Dual DPU Support: High availability and performance with DPUs, a single ESXi host can leverage two Data Processing Units (DPUs). Configure an Isolated Domain with a Shared NSX Instance: It enables the flexibility to use multiple isolated domains using a shared NSX instance. TEP Performance Enhancements: This allows bundling the TEPs of an edge into a TEP group to gain high response performance. Storage Feature Enhancement: vSAN Storage Cluster Support: Disaggregated Storage cluster solution powered by vSAN ESA. vSAN ESA Stretched Cluster: VCF 5.2 supports the Express Storage Architecture (ESA) in a stretched cluster topology giving a site level resiliency. Lifecycle Management Enhancement: Independently Upgrade SDDC Manager: Now, can take advantage of new management capabilities and fixes without needing to upgrade the full management domain BOM. Upgrade or Patch Domains from SDDC Manager: Patches can also be applied during upgrades workflows. Create an Offline Depot Local Patch Repository: This eliminates the need to manually copy and import bundles to each VCF instance. Create an offline depot (a local mirror of the online depot) on a web server. vSphere Live Patching: Allows updating ESXi hosts without rebooting under certain circumstances Migration Enhancement: HCX Performance Enhancements: 1,000 Total Migration simultaneously/Concurrently. HCX Assisted vMotion (HAV): HCX Migration Orchestration + ESXi/vCenter vSphere vMotion. HCX Traffic Engineering: NE Appliance 7-8 Gbps now (1.4X faster NE). HCX OS Assisted Migration: Massive footprint reduction and simplified migration data path for OSAM. Reference Doc: VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2 Release Notes

This blog post provides a comprehensive, a detailed step-by-step guide to seamlessly "How to Convert/Import an Existing Brownfield vSphere Environment into VCF". With VCF 5.2, we now have new feature introduced "VCF Import Tool", to convert or import an existing brownfield vSphere and vSAN environment into either a VCF Management Domain or VI Workload Domain without needing to rebuild your existing environment. If you do not already have SDDC Manager deployed, you can deploy it on an existing vSphere environment and use the VCF Import Tool to convert that environment to the VMware Cloud Foundation management domain. If SDDC Manager is already deployed, you can use the VCF Import Tool to import existing vSphere environments as VI workload domains. Refer to below official documentations for more on supported & considerations: Supported Scenarios for Converting or Importing vSphere Environments to VMware Cloud Foundation Considerations Before Converting or Importing Existing vSphere Environments into VMware Cloud Foundation Note: If you haven’t seen the release notes yet, please check out: VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2 Release Notes This blog is in two parts to cover Convert (for Management WLD) and Import (for VI WLD) both: Part 1 : Onboarding a Brownfield vSphere Environment into VCF as a Management Workload Domain Part 2 : Onboarding a Brownfield vSphere Environment into VCF as a VI Workload Domain Let's get started: Part 1 : Onboarding a Brownfield vSphere Environment into VCF as a Management Workload Domain Overview of Existing vSphere Environment Setup before Convert to VCF Management Workload Domain:   Now let’s do a quick walkthrough of the existing vSphere environment and confirm that all the pre-requisites & considerations are met before converting this vSphere Env to VCF Management Domain. 4 ESXi hosts (8.0.3) With FQDN and Static IPs vCenter (8.0.3) vSAN Cluster – Single Site Mgt, vMotion, vSAN, VM Network – Backed by vDS DRS - Set To Fully-Automated HA – HA On All the vmkernel ports are configured with static IP addresses. DRS mode is set to fully-automated: Single site vSAN cluster: Now, we have validated and met all the pre-requisites for a successful VCF convert. Let’s move on and download the required software for VCF convert/import: Required Software for Converting: Download the below three softwares from https://support.broadcom.com/ VCF SDDC Manager Appliance VCF Import Tool VMware Software Install Bundle - NSX_T_MANAGER 4.2.1.0 Run a Precheck on the Target vCenter Before Conversion: The precheck determines if the environment is ready and can be converted to the management domain Copy the VCF Import Tool to the Target vCenter Appliance Run a Precheck on the Target vCenter Before Conversion Copy the VCF Import Tool to the Target vCenter & Extract: SSH to the vCenter Server as root Change the default shell from /bin/appliancesh to /bin/bash to allow copy to vCenter # chsh -s /bin/bash root Create a directory for the VCF Import Tool. I created "vcfimport" # mkdir /tmp/vcfimport Copy over the required software into the directory Extract the bundle # tar -xvf vcf-brownfield-import-.tar.gz Now, run the Precheck on the Target vCenter Before Conversion: Success! Pre-checks on the target vCenter have passed successfully, and we are good to proceed further now. Deploy SDDC Manager Appliance: Deploy the SDDC Manager appliance on the target vCenter before converting the vCenter to the VMware Cloud Foundation management domain. Once the appliance is deployed successfully, we will power on and wait for the shell to initialize. The UI will not initialize at this moment, and we need to wait until the management workload domain is imported successfully. Official document on how to deploy SDDC: Deploy the SDDC Manager Appliance on the Target vCenter Upload the Software to SDDC Manager now and perform detailed checks on the target vCenter: Success!  Checks from the SDDC on the target vCenter have passed successfully, we are good to proceed further now. Uploading NSX bundles and generating NSX deployment specification: To deploy NSX Manager when you convert or import a vSphere environment into VMware Cloud Foundation, you must create an NSX deployment specification. Download NSX software Upload it to sddc folder location "/nfs/vmware/vcf/nfs-mount/bundle" Create nsx_spec.json with all your information for NSX IPs/fqdn, and upload it to sddc, I copied to "/home/vcf" We will deploy NSX manager cluster along with the workload domain convert process. This workflow covers the below tasks: Deploy a three-node NSX manager cluster Assign cluster VIP to the NSX manager cluster Add the management vCenter server as a compute manager in NSX Prepares the management vSphere cluster with NSX on DVPG Follow the official below document to create your NSX JSON file with all required values, as I have created and uploaded to SDDC for NSX deployment. Generate an NSX Deployment Specification for Converting or Importing Existing vSphere Environments Note - Make sure DNS host records created for the NSX management cluster Now, Onboard vSphere Environment into Management WLD in SDDC Manager: At this stage, we are all good to run the VCF Import Tool and start the conversion of existing vSphere Environment into VCF Management Workload Domain Prerequisites Take a snapshot of SDDC Manager. Procedure SSH to the SDDC Manager VM as user vcf . Navigate to the directory where you copied the VCF Import Tool. Run the vcf_brownfield.py script and enter the required passwords when prompted. # python3 vcf_brownfield.py convert --vcenter '' --sso-user '' --domain-name '' --nsx-deployment-spec-path '' Inspect the command outputs highlighted in yellow. All should be status code 200. Switch to the root account upon successful conversion. Restart all SDDC Manager services. #echo 'y' | /opt/vmware/vcf/operationsmanager/scripts/cli/sddcmanager_restart_services.sh Once all the SDDC Manager services have restarted the new workload domain (management domain or VI workload domain) should appear in the SDDC Manager UI. Below are the screenshots to start Convert: Convert started: Once started, for me it took more than 2 hours going through all the validation & conversion process, as you can see below. Keep monitoring for any error or failure. If encounter with any failure, check the logs and fix to proceed further. Success!! We can see now above, the VCF Convert operation has gone successful. Perform Health-Check Validation On the Converted Management Domain: We will now perform a quick walkthrough of the SDDC manager console and validate the imported management workload domain. Below are the methods. SDDC UI SDDC CLI SDDC Pre-check SDDC UI: SDDC CLI: You can run the "Health-check" CLI to generate the comprehensive report, as shown below. SDDC Pre-check: Let’s run the Prechecks from the SDDC Manager on the management workload domain for general upgrade readiness and see if there are any critical errors or warnings. Congratulations!!!!!! We have successfully performed conversion of an existing brownfield vSphere Environment into VCF Management Domain now. Conclusion By following these steps, you can effectively onboard your existing vSphere environment as a Management workload domain into VCF. This will enable you to leverage the benefits of VCF, such as simplified management, enhanced security, and automated operations. In the next part (Part 2) of this series, we will delve into "Onboarding a Brownfield vSphere Environment into VCF as a VI Workload Domain " Part 2 link : Part 2: Onboarding a Brownfield vSphere Environment into VCF as a "VI Workload Domain"

Welcome back!!! In the previous part ( Part 1 ) of this series, we introduced the VCF Import Tool and its capabilities on "Onboarding a Brownfield vSphere Environment into VCF as a Management Workload Domain ". Now, in Part 2 blog post we'll dive deeper with detailed a step-by-step guide on "Onboarding a Brownfield vSphere Environment into VCF as a VI Workload Domain ". Please note, the considerations for onboarding brownfield deployments into the VCF Management Workload Domain remain relevant for the VI Workload Domain as well. Below is the official document for your reference, if needed again. Considerations Before Converting or Importing Existing vSphere Environments into VMware Cloud Foundation Let's get started: Part 2 : Onboarding a Brownfield vSphere Environment Into VCF as a "VI Workload Domain" Note :- As mentioned in previous blog, VCF Import comes with "Convert" and "Import" capabilities. Convert is used to form a Management WLD, wherein Import is used to form VI WLD into VCF. Overview of Existing brownfield vSphere Environment Setup Before Import to VCF as VI Workload Domain:   Now let’s do a quick walkthrough of the existing vSphere environment and confirm that all the pre-requisites & considerations are met before importing this vSphere Environment into VCF VI Workload Domain. vCenter (8.0.3): vc-l-03b.x.x Cluster: Two clusters ("Cls-01-WLD" and "Cls-02-WLD") Storage: NFS Datastore Networking: vDS backed networking - Mgt, vMotion, NFS & VM Networking traffics ESXi Hosts: Cls-01-WLD: esx-10b.x.x - 192.168.x.x esx-11b.x.x - 192.168.x.x esx-12b.x.x - 192.168.x.x Cls-02-WLD: esx-03a.x.x - 192.168.x.x esx-05a.x.x - 192.168.x.x Now, we have perform validation and met all the pre-requisites for a successful VCF Import. Let’s move on and download the required "VCF Import Tool" software from https://support.broadcom.com/ . Please note this is the same software that you used in Part 1, while "converting" to VCF Management Domain, if you still have downloaded and saved locally on your system, then use the same. Required Software For Importing: VCF Import Tool VMware Software Install Bundle - NSX_T_MANAGER Upload The Required Software To The SDDC Manager Now: Procedure: SSH to the SDDC Manager as user vcf. Copy/Upload the "NSX deployment bundle bundle-.zip" to the /nfs/vmware/vcf/nfs-mount/bundle/ folder. Now, copy the VCF Import Tool to the SDDC Manager. Create a folder for the VCF Import Tool. Copy "vcf-brownfield-import-.tar.gz" to the SDDC Manager folder. Now, extract the bundle "vcf-brownfield-import-.tar.gz" # tar -xvf vcf-brownfield-import-.tar.gz You can verify the scripts extracted correctly. # python3 vcf_brownfield.py --help Generate an NSX Deployment Specification for Importing Existing Brownfield vSphere Environments into VCF: To deploy NSX Manager when you import a vSphere environment into VCF, you must create an NSX deployment specification. NSX deployment requires a minimum of 3 hosts. Make sure DNS host records created for the NSX management cluster. Create "nsx_spec.json" with all your information for NSX IPs/fqdn, and upload it to sddc, I copied to " /home/vcf/vcfimport " We will deploy NSX manager cluster along with the VI workload domain import process. This workflow covers the below tasks: Deploy a three-node NSX manager cluster. Assign cluster VIP to the NSX manager cluster. Add the management vCenter server as a compute manager in NSX. Please follow the official below document to create your NSX JSON file with all required values. Generate an NSX Deployment Specification for Converting or Importing Existing vSphere Environments Run a Detailed Check On The Target vCenter Before Import: Before we perform a VI workload domain import operation, we must perform a detailed check to ensure that the existing vSphere environment's configuration is supported for a successful import. Procedure: SSH to SDDC Manager as "vcf". Navigate to the directory where copied the VCF Import Tool and run the "check" command. If any checks fail, refer to the guardrails YAML file for information on the failed check to fix. Success! Checks from the SDDC on the Target vCenter have passed successfully as shown in above screenshot, we are good to proceed further now. Now, Import The Existing vSphere Environment Into The SDDC Manager as VI WLD: At this stage, we are all good to run the VCF Import Tool and start the Import operation of the existing vSphere Environment into VCF as VI Workload Domain. Prerequisites: Take a snapshot of SDDC Manager. Procedure: SSH to the SDDC Manager VM as user vcf. Navigate to the directory where you copied the VCF Import Tool. Run the vcf_brownfield.py script and enter the required passwords when prompted. # python3 vcf_brownfield.py import --vcenter '' --sso-user '' --domain-name '' --nsx-deployment-spec-path '' Inspect the command outputs highlighted in yellow. All should be status code 200. Upon successful import, switch to the root account. Restart all SDDC Manager services. # echo 'y' | /opt/vmware/vcf/operationsmanager/scripts/cli/sddcmanager_restart_services.sh Once all the SDDC Manager services have restarted the new VI workload domain should appear in the SDDC Manager UI. Below are the screenshots to start Import Operation: Once import job started, you can validate running "import" job & configuration status from SDDC UI as well. NSX Managers have started getting deployed, can verify from vCenter as can see below. Success!! Now, we can see above, the VCF Import operation has been completed successful. It took more than 2 hours for me, going through all the validation & import process. Once you start the import, keep monitoring until it completes successfully. If any guardrails fail, refer to the YAML log file for information on the failed task to do troubleshooting and restart the import job again. Perform Health-Check Validation On The Imported VI Workload Domain: After you successfully import, it is an important to perform validation and run an upgrade precheck as well to identify any potential issues. Below are the methods and attached screenshots to perform successful validation & health checks. SDDC UI SDDC CLI SDDC Pre-check SDDC UI SDDC CLI: SDDC Pre-check: Procedure: Log in to the SDDC Manager UI. Navigate to Workload Domains and click on the workload domain name. Click the Updates tab and click Run Precheck. Under Target Version, select General Upgrade Readiness and select all components. Click Run Precheck. Review the results. Congratulations!!!!!! Now, we have successfully performed the import of the existing brownfield vSphere Environment into VCF as a VI Workload Domain. Conclusion By following these steps, you can effectively & seamlessly import your existing vSphere environment as a VI workload domain into VCF. This will enable you to leverage the benefits of VCF, such as simplified management, enhanced security, and automated operations. More from my site Part 1: Onboarding a Brownfield vSphere Environment into VCF as a Management Workload Domain VMware VCF 5.2 - What’s New Removing failed tasks in SDDC Manager Automate HCX Manager deployment with PowerCLI

As we all know, regular backup of the management components are very critical, and that ensures you can keep your environment operational by restoring if a data loss or failure occurs. Today, In this blog post we'll perform SDDC Manager "RESTORE" to a fully operational state by using its File-Based backup. Table Of Contents: Overview Of SDDC Manager Backup configuration (Prior restoration) Prerequisites Prepare for Restoring SDDC Manager Restore SDDC Manager from File-Based Backup Health-check Validation After SDDC Manager Restore Overiew Of SDDC Manager Backup configuration (Prior restoration): Prerequisites: a. Make sure failed SDDC Manager is powered off and renamed. b. Validate the valid file-based backup status c. Require the SFTP server details/credentials Prepare for Restoring SDDC Manager: Procedure a. SSH to SFTP server, and go to backup file location b. Extract the backup file # openssl enc -d -aes256 -in vcf-backup-sddc-manager-xxxxx-xxxxxx.tar.gz | tar -xzp When prompted, enter the encryption_password (please note, you can either use the same server, or can download the back file on local system and run the command). I have used the same SFTP server to extract the file and restore) c. Once extracted, locate and open the metadata.json file. d. Locate the sddc_manager_ova_location value and copy the URL to download the SDDC Manager OVA file. e. Now, open security_password_vault.json and record the backp password as well. Restore SDDC Manager from File-Based Backup Procedure a. Login to Management Domain vCenter, and deploy a new SDDC Manager appliance by using the OVA file that you downloaded during the preparation for the restore. b. While OVA deployment, provided information must match with metadata.json file that you downloaded during the preparation. c. After SDDC Manager deployment completes, Take Snapshot. d. Power On the VM. e. Copy the encrypted backup file to the /tmp folder on the newly deployed SDDC Manager appliance. You can use CLI or WinSCP. I used CLI. # scp filename-of-restore-file vcf@sddc_manager_fqdn:/tmp/ f. Now, obtain the authentication token from the SDDC Manager appliance in order to be able to execute the restore process by running the following command. # TOKEN=`curl https:///v1/tokens -k -X POST -H "Content- Type: application/json" -d '{"username": "admin@local","password": " "}' | awk -F "\"" '{ print $4}'` g. Now, you run the command to start the restore process. Before running the command update the values (highlighted bold below) as per your details. curl https://< sddc_man_fqdn >/v1/restores/tasks -k -X POST -H "Content- Type: application/json" -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \ -d '{ "elements" : [ { "resourceType" : "SDDC_MANAGER" } ], "backupFile" : "< backup_file >", "encryption" : { "passphrase" : "< encryption_password >" } }' h. Record the ID of the restore task after running the above command. i. Monitor the restore task by using the following command until the status becomes Successful. # curl https:///v1/restores/tasks/ -k -X GET -H "Content-Type: application/json" -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" Screenshots for reference: SDDC Manager deployment Snapshot captured Copy the encrypted backup file to the /tmp Obtain the authentication token Command to start the restore process Monitor the restore task Monitor the restore tasks by using the command line until the status becomes successful. For it, it took almost 15 to 20 minutes, it may vary & depend on the size of the environment. Health-check Validation After SDDC Manager Restore SDDC UI - Health-check: CLI - Health-check: Wow, Congratulations!!! We've successfully performed SDDC Manager restore from File-Based backup now. Conclusion By following above steps, you can perform effectively restoration of your SDDC Manager from file-based backup.

The VMware vExpert Program is a prestigious recognition awarded to professionals who go above and beyond to contribute to VMware's ecosystem. It honors individuals who actively share their knowledge, advocate for VMware technologies, and engage with the community through various mediums like blogging, vlogging, authoring, VCDX certifications, VMUG leadership, and other impactful efforts. Being part of the vExpert community not only amplifies your professional credibility but also connects you with a global network of technology experts and leaders. If you're passionate about VMware and eager to share your expertise with the broader community, here's a step-by-step guide on how you can apply for the vExpert 2025 program and take the next step in your journey to becoming a recognized thought leader in the VMware ecosystem. Steps to Apply for VMware vExpert 2025: Visit the vExpert Website : Go to the VMware vExpert Portal . Log In or Create an Account : If you're a returning applicant, log in with your existing credentials. New applicants will need to create an account on the portal. Start Your Application : Once logged in, navigate to the "Applications" section and click on the "vExpert 2025 Application" link. Choose Your Application Type : New Applicant : If you're applying for the first time. ( Renewal : If you've been a vExpert before and are renewing your status. Proving Contribution : If you are switching to a different vExpert path. Fill Out the Application : Provide detailed information about your contributions to the VMware community in the past year. Examples include: Blog posts, technical guides, or case studies. Public speaking engagements, webinars, or podcasts. Community involvement, such as answering questions in forums or organizing events. Social media advocacy for VMware products and technologies. Provide Evidence of Contributions : Include links to blog posts, social media posts, YouTube videos, or any other relevant material showcasing your VMware-related work. Provide a Reference :  Provide a existing vExpert reference email id , if he or she has guided you to become vExpert . (its optional if you know any vExpert Pro You can provide he/she name ) Submit the Application : Review your application carefully and click "Submit/Save." The portal will confirm the successful submission. Wait for Feedback : Applications are reviewed by the VMware vExpert team and a panel of experts. You'll be notified via email if you are selected. Becoming a VMware vExpert offers numerous benefits, both tangible and intangible, for professionals engaged with VMware technologies. Here are the key advantages of earning this prestigious title: Recognition in the VMware Community Prestige : Being a vExpert establishes you as a thought leader and trusted contributor within the VMware ecosystem. Global Visibility : Your name is listed in the official vExpert Directory, showcasing your expertise. Access to VMware Products NFR Licenses : Free Not-For-Resale (NFR) licenses for various VMware products, allowing you to build labs and explore advanced features. Contribution to the Community Give Back : Use your platform to educate others, share knowledge, and shape the future of the VMware ecosystem. Tips for a Successful Application Highlight unique contributions, especially those that impact a broader audience. Be clear and concise about your role and achievements. If possible, provide measurable results (e.g., "Reached 5,000 readers through my VMware blog posts"). Showcase a variety of contribution types for a well-rounded profile. Deadlines and Announcements Application Period: Typically announced on the portal and social media. For vExpert 2025 Last date is 10th Jan 2025 Announcement Date: Accepted applicants are usually notified a few weeks after the application closes. The VMware vExpert Program is not just a title but a gateway to becoming an influential member of a vibrant, global community. It provides unparalleled opportunities to enhance your professional journey, offering access to exclusive tools, resources, and networking avenues to advance both your technical expertise and career.