You can expand an existing workload domain by adding a VxRail cluster using the SDDC Manager UI.

Use the SDDC Manager UI to add a VxRail cluster if you have a single system vSphere Distributed Switch (vDS) used for both system and overlay traffic.

Prerequisites

  • Image the workload domain nodes. For information on imaging the nodes, refer to Dell EMC VxRail documentation.
  • The IP addresses and Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs) for the ESXi hosts, VxRail Manager, and NSX Manager instances must be resolvable by DNS.
  • If you are using DHCP for the NSX Host Overlay Network, a DHCP server must be configured on the NSX Host Overlay VLAN of the management domain. When VMware NSX creates TEPs for the VI workload domain, they are assigned IP addresses from the DHCP server.
  • Change the VxRail Manager IP Address
  • Update the VxRail Manager Certificate

Procedure

  1. In the navigation pane, click Inventory > Workload Domains. The Workload Domains page displays information for all workload domains.
  2. In the workload domains table, hover your mouse in the VxRail workload domain row.
    A set of three dots appears on the left of the workload domain name.
  3. Click these three dots. Click Add VxRail Cluster.
  4. Make sure the prerequisites are met. To continue, click GET STARTED.
  5. Select the type of storage to use for this workload domain. Click SELECT.
    The VI - VxRail Virtual Infrastructure Setup wizard opens.
  6. Provide the following information to Add VxRail Cluster to VI-VxRail.
    Option Description
    VxRail Manager
    • VxRail Manager Hostname (must be an FQDN)

      CONNECT to VxRail Manager and confirm the SSL thumbprints of VxRail Manager.

    • VxRail Manager Admin Credentials
      • Admin Username
      • Admin Password
      • Confirm Admin Password
    • VxRail Manager Root Credentials
      • Root Username
      • Root Password
      • Confirm Root Password
    Cluster Enter the details for the first cluster that will be created in this new workload domain.

    The name must be unique and contain between 3 and 80 characters. The cluster name can include letters, numbers, and hyphens, and it can include spaces.

    Networking Overlay Networking
    • VLAN ID
    • IP Allocation: DHCP or Static IP Pool (See descriptions below)
    • Create New Static IP Pool (If creating a new Pool)
      • Pool Name
      • Description
      • CIDR
      • IP Range
      • Gateway IP
    • Re-use an existing Pool
    Option Description
    DHCP With this option VMware Cloud Foundation uses DHCP for the Host Overlay Network TEPs.

    A DHCP server must be configured on the NSX host overlay (Host TEP) VLAN. When NSX creates TEPs for the VI workload domain, they are assigned IP addresses from the DHCP server.

    Static IP Pool With this option VMware Cloud Foundation uses a static IP pool for the Host Overlay Network TEPs. You can re-use an existing IP pool or create a new one.
    To create a new static IP Pool provide the following information:
    • Pool Name
    • Description
    • CIDR
    • IP Range.
    • Gateway IP
    Make sure the IP range includes enough IP addresses for the number of hosts that will use the static IP Pool. The number of IP addresses required depends on the number of pNICs on the ESXi hosts that are used for the vSphere Distributed Switch that handles host overlay networking. For example, a host with four pNICs that uses two pNICs for host overlay traffic requires two IP addresses in the static IP pool.
    Note: You cannot stretch a cluster that uses static IP addresses for the NSX Host Overlay Network TEPs.
    Option Description
    Host Selection Add ESXi hosts with similar or identical configurations across all cluster members, including similar or identical storage configurations. A minimum of 3 hosts are required. Two-step process to select and add hosts.
    • Select hosts to add to cluster
      Note: The Primary host is selected by default
    • Provide hosts details (QUICKFILL OPTIONS is available)
    You must click RESOLVE HOSTS IP ADDRESS before moving on to the next step. This button is activated after all host details are entered.
    Switch Configuration Provide the distributed switch configuration to be applied to the hosts in the VxRail cluster. Select the predefined NIC configuration profile and review the preconfigured distributed switches and details. You can edit the VDS and Portgroup information here.
    Note: VDS configuration requires homogeneous host network adapters across all hosts. Only adapters of same enumeration across all hosts can be used for configuring VDS.
    Host and VM Networks Configure Host and VM network details.
    • Management Network: VLAN ID, CIDR, and Gateway
    • vSAN: VLAN ID, CIDR, Gateway, and IP Range
    • vMotion Network: VLAN ID, CIDR, Gateway, and IP Range
    Licenses Select the licenses for NSX, VMware vSAN, and VMware vSphere.
    Note: If you are using VCF+, license keys are not required.
    Review Review and confirm the Workload Domain settings.
    Validation Validates the configuration
  7. On the Validation page, wait until all of the inputs have been successfully validated.
    If validation is unsuccessful, you cannot proceed. Use the Back button to modify your settings and try again.
  8. Click Finish.
    The add VxRail cluster task is triggered.