The VMware Cloud Foundation deployment process is referred to as bring-up. You specify deployment information specific to your environment such as networks, hosts, license keys, and other information in the deployment parameter workbook and upload the file to the VMware Cloud Builder appliance to initiate bring-up of the management domain.

During bring-up, the management domain is created on the ESXi hosts specified in the deployment parameter workbook. The VMware Cloud Foundation software components are automatically deployed, configured, and licensed using the information provided. The deployment parameter workbook can be reused to deploy multiple VMware Cloud Foundation instances of the same version.

The following procedure describes how to perform bring-up of the management domain using the deployment parameter workbook. You can also perform bring-up using a custom JSON specification. See the VMware Cloud Foundation API Reference Guide for more information.

Some use cases are only available using a custom JSON specification. For example, using custom CA-signed certificates for ESXi hosts. See Deploy the Management Domain Using ESXi Hosts with External Certificates.

Procedure

  1. In a web browser, log in to the VMware Cloud Builder appliance administration interface: https://Cloud_Builder_VM_FQDN.
  2. Enter the admin credentials you provided when you deployed the VMware Cloud Builder appliance and then click Log In.
  3. On the End-User License Agreement page, select the I Agree to the End User License Agreement check box and click Next.
  4. Select VMware Cloud Foundation and click Next.
  5. Review and acknowledge the prerequisties and click Next.
    If there are any gaps, ensure they are fixed before proceeding to avoid issues during the bring-up process. You can download or print the prerequisite list for reference.
  6. Download the deployment parameter workbook from VMware Customer Connect and fill it in with the required information.
    See About the Deployment Parameter Workbook.
  7. Click Next.
  8. Click Select File, browse to the completed workbook, and click Open to upload the workbook.
  9. Click Next to begin validation of the uploaded file.

    To access the bring-up log file, SSH to the VMware Cloud Builder appliance as admin and open the /opt/vmware/bringup/logs/vcf-bringup-debug.log file.

    If there is an error during the validation and the Next button is grayed out, you can either make corrections to the environment or edit the deployment parameter workbook and upload it again. Then click Retry to perform the validation again.

    If any warnings are displayed and you want to proceed, click Acknowledge and then click Next.

  10. Click Deploy SDDC.
    During the bring-up process, the vCenter Server, NSX, and SDDC Manager appliances are deployed and the management domain is created. The status of the bring-up tasks is displayed in the UI.

    After bring-up is completed, a green bar is displayed indicating that bring-up was successful. A link to the SDDC Manager UI is also displayed. If there are errors during bring-up, see Troubleshooting VMware Cloud Foundation Deployment.

  11. Click Download to download a detailed deployment report. This report includes information on assigned IP addresses and networks that were configured in your environment.
  12. After bring-up is completed, click Finish.
  13. Click Launch SDDC Manager.
  14. Power off the VMware Cloud Builder appliance.
    The VMware Cloud Builder appliance includes the VMware Imaging Appliance service, which you can use to install ESXi on additional servers after bring-up is complete. You can delete the VMware Cloud Builder appliance to reclaim its resources or keep it available for future server imaging.