How to auto-bootstrap ESXi host into vSAN enabled vLCM cluster (Green field installation)

Products

• VMware vSAN
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides guidelines to network boot new ESXi host into vSAN enabled vLCM cluster.

Environment

VMware vSphere 7.0.x

Resolution

Requirements for enabling vSAN

For more information, see Requirements for Enabling vSAN.

Scenario#1 - Creating a new vSAN enabled vLCM cluster

1. Create a vSAN enabled vLCM cluster

1. Select vSAN radio button.
2. Select the Manage image setup and updates on all hosts collectively checkbox.
3. Choose Cluster image setup or leave default value. If the default value is None, create a cluster image from PMAN flow.
4. Click OK.

2. Create an active deploy rule with target location vSAN cluster on VC

1. Click New Deploy Rule on the Deploy rule tab.
2. Provide the name for the rule and add the pattern if needed.
3. Configuration - Select the checkbox for the host location for item to include.
4. Select host location as vSAN Cluster.
5. Click FINISH to complete the rule creation.

3. Boot the host(s) when it is added to VC and configure vSAN. For more information, see Configure a Cluster for vSAN Using the vSphere Client.

Scenario#2 - Attaching the host profile to the existing vSAN enabled vLCM cluster.

1. Extract the host profile from the reference host (host which is already part of the vSAN cluster).
2. Edit the host profile for Advanced Configuration Settings > System Image Cache Configuration 
   1. Enable Stateful Install on the host and provide the required parameters like First disk, and so on. For more information, see Configure a Host Profile to Enable Stateful Installs.
   2.  Disable the core dump profile (Go to - General System Setting > Core dump configuration).
3. Attach the host profile to the vLCM cluster and edit host customization for host profile if required.
4. Setup the host to boot from the disk.

Host will be rebooted twice and joined with the vLCM cluster.