Starting with version 10.2.2, the VMware Cloud Director appliance can run in FIPS-compliant mode. You can view the appliance and cell FIPS mode.

When using the VMware Cloud Director appliance, to configure the VMware Cloud Director appliance to run in FIPS-compliant mode, you must manage both the appliance FIPS mode and the cell FIPS mode.

  • The appliance FIPS mode is the mode of the underlying appliance OS, embedded database, and various system libraries.
  • The cell FIPS mode is the mode of the VMware Cloud Director cell running on each appliance.
Table 1. FIPS Mode State
Health Description
Green check mark The appliance and cell FIPS modes match. Both modes are either on or off.
Yellow exclamation mark The cell FIPS mode is in a Pending restart state. Use the appliance API to activate or deactivate the appliance FIPS mode. Changing the appliance FIPS mode automatically restarts the VMware Cloud Director cell service.
Red exclamation mark The VMware Cloud Director appliance cannot determine the cell FIPS mode. The VMware Cloud Director service failing on the appliance can cause the cell FIPS mode to be undetermined.

Prerequisites

Activate or Deactivate FIPS Mode on the VMware Cloud Director Appliance

Procedure

  1. Log in as root to the appliance management UI at https://primary_eth1_ip_address:5480.
  2. From the left panel, select System Configuration.
  3. View the status of the appliance and cell FIPS mode on each node.