Design Decisions for VMware Cloud Foundation

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 This post outlines critical design decisions architects should consider when planning and deploying VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF).

1. VCF Constructs and Architecture

VCF private cloud is composed of hierarchical constructs with clear management responsibilities:

  • VCF Instance: Includes a management domain and optional workload domains with core components such as vCenter, NSX, SDDC Manager, and ESX hosts.
  • VCF Fleet: Manages one or more VCF Instances along with fleet-level components like VCF Operations and VCF Automation.
  • VCF Private Cloud: Represents the highest level aggregating one or more VCF Fleets.

Architects must design with these constructs in mind, determining how many instances and fleets are needed based on scale, organizational boundaries, and operational models.

2. VCF Operations Deployment Models

VCF Operations is the central management console with deployment options affecting availability and recovery:

  • Simple Model: Single node, minimal footprint. Suitable for small environments but slower recovery after failures.
  • High Availability (HA) Model: Three-node cluster with rapid failure recovery and optional external load balancer for scaling.
  • Continuous Availability Model: Dual nodes across availability zones providing no service interruption upon failure, suitable for multi-site deployments.

Choose the appropriate model balancing resilience requirements and cost.

3. Workload Domain and vSphere Cluster Models

Workload domains segregate resources for applications and can contain one or more vSphere clusters.

  • Management Domain: Contains core management appliances and fleet components. It may also run workloads if needed.
  • Workload Domains: Run customer applications, isolated by separate vCenter and Single Sign-On domains if required.

vSphere clusters are selected based on availability:

  • Single-Rack: Suitable for minimal footprint, fault domain within a rack.
  • Multi-Rack (Layer 2 or 3): Spans multiple racks with fault isolation for higher availability.
  • Stretched Clusters: Extend across availability zones for resilience against site failures.

4. Networking and Distributed Switch Models

Networking underpins the entire platform with design options affecting performance and isolation:

  • Distributed Switch Models: Range from a single switch supporting all traffic to complex models separating storage, workload, and management traffic onto different switches for maximum bandwidth and isolation.
  • Network Fabric Models: Options include single-rack, multi-rack, or availability zone fabrics supporting different cluster models.
  • Fleet-Level Networking: Choices include shared or dedicated management networks and overlay or VLAN NSX segments.

Design for scalability, security, and operational simplicity when selecting switch and fabric models.

5. Storage Architecture and Models

VCF supports various principal and supplemental storage models:

  • vSAN ESA and OSA: Provide hyperconverged storage with one-tier or two-tier architectures using NVMe or mixed disk types.
  • External Storage: Fiber Channel or NFS arrays can be integrated via supplemental datastores.
  • Storage Clusters: Disaggregated storage clusters provide flexibility for scaling storage and compute independently.

Selection depends on performance needs, availability targets, and existing storage infrastructure.

6. Identity and Authentication Models

Authentication uses VCF Identity Broker and Single Sign-On services:

  • Identity Broker Models: Embedded within vCenter for simplicity or as a dedicated appliance cluster for higher availability.
  • Single Sign-On Models: Scale from per-instance to fleet-wide brokers based on scale and isolation needs.

Design identity services to avoid single points of failure and enable seamless access across VCF components.

7. Supervisor and Kubernetes Integration Models

vSphere Supervisor enables Kubernetes workload management with options including:

  • Management Zones: Single or three-zone models for control plane availability and workload isolation.
  • Control Plane Availability: Simple (single node) or HA (three nodes) control planes.
  • Load Balancers: NSX, AVI, or Foundation Load Balancer based on networking model and scalability requirements.

Architects must balance resource allocation, operational complexity, and Kubernetes workload expectations.

8. Design Blueprints and Expansion Paths

Pre-defined design blueprints provide prescriptive architectures for common use cases:

  • Single site minimal footprint for small-scale deployments.
  • Single site with multi-rack and high availability.
  • Multi-site designs across regions with disaster recovery considerations.

VCF enables flexible expansion by adding hosts, clusters, workload domains, or instances, supporting evolving business and technical needs.


Cheers .............

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