To create and manage a workload domain, VMware Cloud Foundation requires at least one shared storage type for all ESXi hosts within a cluster. This initial shared storage type, known as principal storage, is selected during the creation of a workload domain or cluster in SDDC Manager. Additional shared storage, known as supplemental storage, can be added using the vSphere Client after a cluster has been created.

Although the management domain requires vSAN as its principal storage, vSAN is not required for VI workload domains or vSphere clusters.

For a VI workload domain, the initial storage type can be one of the following:

  • vSAN
  • Fibre Channel (FC)
  • Network File System (NFS) protocol version 3
  • VMware vSphere Virtual Volumes (vVols)

This initial shared storage type is known as principal storage. Principal storage is configured when creating a new VI workload domain or a cluster in SDDC Manager. Once created, the principal storage type for a cluster cannot be changed. However, a VI workload domain can include multiple clusters with unique principal storage types.

Additional shared storage types can be added to a cluster in the management domain or a VI workload domain after it has been created. The additional supported shared storage options include:

  • vSAN
  • Fibre Channel (FC)
  • iSCSI Network File System
  • Network File System (NFS) protocol version 3 or 4.1
  • VMware vSphere Virtual Volumes (vVols)

Additional shared storage types are known as supplemental storage. All supplemental storage must be listed in the VMware Compatibility Guide. Supplemental storage can be manually added or removed after a cluster has been created using the vSphere Client. Multiple supplemental storage types can be presented to a cluster in the management domain or any VI workload domain.