Cannot use VCSA UI Installer 9.0 to create a vSAN cluster as deploying vCenter

Products

• VMware vSAN

Issue/Introduction

VCSA UI Installer can be used to deploy vCenter Server Appliance, and it provides various configuration options through the tool's GUI interface including the option to bootstrap a new vSAN cluster("Install on a new vSAN cluster containing the target host).

Due to a technical limitation, the new vSAN cluster bootstrapping option in VCSA UI Installer 9.0 will NOT work, and the deployment process fails at "Install - Stage 2: vCenter Server setup is in progress".

The error seen in the vSAN cluster bootstrapping workflow is a known issue, DO NOT use this option in VCSA UI Installer 9.0.

Environment

VMware VCSA UI Installer 9.0

VMware vSAN 9.0

Resolution

• Use the option "Install on an existing datastore accessible form the target host" to proceed with the VCSA deployment using VCSA UI Installer 9.0. After VCSA is deployed, create a vSAN cluster though VCSA's vSphere Client user interface.
  • If an existing datastore doesn't exist, log onto the ESXi host and create a datastore that can be used with the deployment. Reference: Creating vSphere Datastores
• Alternatively switch to the VCSA CLI Installer(Command line based) tool for VCSA deployment, the new vSAN cluster bootstrapping capability in VCSA CLI installer 9.0 is not being impacted.
• For VCF/VVF, it is recommended to use VCF Installer 9.0, a new GUI based tool with capabilities to deploy a full stack VCF/VVF instance