In the VI Configuration wizard, you specify the storage, name, compute, and NSX platform details for the VI workload domain. Based on the selected storage, you provide vSAN parameters, NFS share details, or VMFS on FC datastore information. You then select the hosts and licenses for the workload domain and start the creation workflow.

The workflow automatically:
  • Deploys an additional vCenter Server Appliance for the new workload domain within the management domain.

    By using a separate vCenter Server instance per workload domain, software updates can be applied without impacting other workload domains. It also allows for each workload domain to have additional isolation as needed.

  • Connects the specified ESXi servers to this vCenter Server instance and groups them into a cluster. Each host is configured with the port groups applicable for the workload domain.
  • Configures networking on each host.
  • Configures vSAN, NFS, or VMFS on FC storage on the ESXi hosts.
  • For each NSX for vSphere workload domain, the workflow deploys an NSX Manager in the management domain and three NSX controllers on the ESXi datastore. The workflow also configures an anti-affinity rule between the controller VMs to prevent them from being on the same host for High Availability.
  • After deploying NSX Manager, the workflow configures the NSX Manager to back up its state periodically to an SFTP server. In the earlier releases, these backups were written to the SFTP server built into SDDC Manager. From Release 3.9 onwards, you can register an external SFTP server with SDDC Manager for these backups. If you register an external SFTPl server, SDDC Manager uses it with all existing NSX Managers with it and will use this external SFTP server when deploying additional NSX Managers. The built-in SFTP server is used until you configure an external one. For more information about the SFTP server feature, see Configure an External SFTP Server for NSX Manager Backups.
  • For the first NSX-T VI workload domain, the workflow deploys a cluster of three NSX-T Managers in the management domain. The workflow also configures an anti-affinity rule between the NSX Manager VMs to prevent them from being on the same host for High Availability. All subsequent NSX-T workload domains share this NSX-T Manager cluster.

    For an NSX-T workload domain, NSX Edges are required to enable overlay VI networks and public networks for north-south traffic. NSX Edges are not deployed automatically for an NSX-T VI workload domain. You can deploy them manually after the VI workload domain is created. Subsequent NSX-T VI workload domains share the NSX-T Edges deployed for the first workload domain.

  • Licenses and integrates the deployed components with the appropriate pieces in the VMware Cloud Foundation software stack.

The result is a workload-ready SDDC environment.

Note: You can only perform one workload domain operation at a time. For example, while creating a new workload domain, you cannot add a cluster to any other workload domain.