Recommended deployment journey for VCF Automation in VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0

Products

• VCF Automation

Issue/Introduction

When starting a new VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0 installation, you may need guidance on the correct sequence of steps to deploy VCF Automation (VCFA) using Fleet Manager. Without following the established holistic journey, you may attempt to deploy automation components before the required infrastructure and prerequisites are in place.

This article provides the recommended roadmap and conditions that must be met to ensure a successful deployment of VCF Automation within the VCF 9.0 ecosystem.

Environment

VCF 9

VCF Automation

Cause

Deployment issues or configuration failures often occur when VCF Automation is treated as a standalone installation rather than a specific stage within the broader VCF 9.0 holistic journey. The component requires specific provider infrastructure and tenant organization setup that must occur after the core VCF 9.0 deployment.

Resolution

To successfully deploy VCF Automation, you must follow the structured phases of the VCF 9.0 Customer Journey Map.

1. Verify Prerequisites and Conditions

Before beginning the deployment, ensure the following conditions are met:

• Account Access: You must have a Broadcom Customer/Support portal account.

• Licensing: Ensure sufficient VCF 9.0 cores are purchased and available.

• Version Compatibility: Existing products must be at the minimum version required to be upgradeable to VCF 9.0.

• System Configuration: * vCenter must not be part of Enhanced Linked Mode (ELM).

  • Components must not use IPv6.

  • Existing clusters must be vSphere Lifecycle Manager (vLCM) based.

2. Follow the Deployment Sequence

You must complete the following phases in order:

1. Plan and Prepare: Upgrade existing Aria components (e.g., Aria Operations 8.x to VCF Operations 9.0) and finalize server/network configurations.

2. Deploy VCF 9.0: Convert environments into VCF, register licenses, and import existing Aria Automation 8.x instances if applicable.

3. Setup VCF Automation:

   • Initialize the provider infrastructure.

   • Create tenant organizations.

   • Configure required networking in vCenter and NSX.

4. Tenant Organization Setup: Configure IaaS self-service, design blueprints, and publish catalog items.

Additional Information

For a detailed visual guide and a step-by-step checklist, refer to the VCF 9.0 Holistic Aria Automation to VCF Automation Journey Map.