About Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation

The Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution provides information on the use of the VMware Aria^® Automation™ service (formerly VMware vRealize^® Automation Cloud™) with the on-premises VMware Cloud Foundation platform. The solution can be extended to support public cloud automation and covers recommended operational practices and considerations, where applicable.

A VMware validated solution is a well-architected and validated implementation, built and tested by VMware and VMware partners to help customers deliver common business use cases. VMware validated solutions are operational, cost-effective, reliable, and secure. Each solution contains a detailed design, implementation, and operational guidance.

Automation for This Design in VMware Cloud Foundation

VMware Cloud Foundation™ SDDC Manager^® automates the prerequisite implementation tasks for this design. For the rest of the design decisions, as noted in the design implications, you must perform the implementation steps manually.

To provide a fast and efficient path to automating the Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation implementation, this document provides open-source Terraform procedures as code-based alternatives to completing certain procedures in each SDDC component's user interface. You can directly reuse these CLI commands by replacing the provided sample values with values from your VMware Cloud Foundation Planning and Preparation Workbook or adapt into your own Terraform modules.

Intended Audience

The Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution is intended for cloud architects and administrators who are familiar with and want to implement cloud automation services that can consume VMware Cloud Foundation.

Support Matrix

The Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution is compatible with specific versions of the VMware products that are used for implementing the solution.

Table 1. Software Components in Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation

VMware Cloud Foundation Version	Product Group	Component Versions
5.0	Products part of VMware Cloud Foundation	See VMware Cloud Foundation 5.0 Release Notes.
	Solution-added products	VMware Aria Automation
4.5.2	Products part of VMware Cloud Foundation	See VMware Cloud Foundation 4.5.2 Release Notes.
	Solution-added products	VMware Aria Automation
4.5.1	Products part of VMware Cloud Foundation	See VMware Cloud Foundation 4.5.1 Release Notes.
	Solution-added products	VMware Aria Automation
4.5.0	Products part of VMware Cloud Foundation	See VMware Cloud Foundation 4.5.0 Release Notes.
	Solution-added products	VMware Aria Automation
4.4.1	Products part of VMware Cloud Foundation	See VMware Cloud Foundation 4.4.1 Release Notes.
	Solution-added products	VMware Aria Automation
4.4.0	Products part of VMware Cloud Foundation	See VMware Cloud Foundation 4.4.0 Release Notes.
	Solution-added products	VMware Aria Automation

Before You Apply This Guidance

To design and implement the Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution, your environment must have a certain configuration.

Table 2. Supported VMware Cloud Foundation Deployment

Workload Domain / Component	Deployment Details
Management domain	Automated deployment using VMware Cloud Builder. See the following VMware Cloud Foundation Documentation: For information on designing the management domain, see VMware Cloud Foundation Design Guide. For information on deploying the management domain, see Getting Started with VMware Cloud Foundation and VMware Cloud Foundation Deployment Guide. For information on operating the management domain, see VMware Cloud Foundation Administration Guide and VMware Cloud Foundation Operations Guide.
One or more virtual infrastructure (VI) workload domains	Automated deployment by using SDDC Manager See the following VMware Cloud Foundation Documentation: For information on designing a VI workload domain, see VMware Cloud Foundation Design Guide. For information on deploying the VI workload domains, see Getting Started with VMware Cloud Foundation and VMware Cloud Foundation Administration Guide. For information on operating the VI Workload domain, see VMware Cloud Foundation Operations Guide.
VMware Cloud Foundation integrated with Active Directory	Manual or PowerShell automated deployment of Standalone Workspace ONE Access. See the Identity and Access Management for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution.

Overview of Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation

By applying the Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution, you activate automation services for VMware Cloud Foundation instances using a Software as a Service (SaaS) based automation platform.

Table 3. Implementation Overview of Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation

Stage	Steps
1. Plan and prepare the VMware Cloud Foundation environment.	Work with the technology team of your organization on configuring the physical servers, network, and storage in the data center. Collect the environment details and write them down in the VMware Cloud Foundation Planning and Preparation Workbook.
2. Activate the VMware Aria Automation service for a VMware Cloud Foundation instance.	Prepare the VMware Cloud Foundation instance for the VMware Aria Automation Service. Connect the VMware Cloud Foundation instance with the VMware Aria Automation Service.
3. Configure workload provisioning.	Configure content libraries and customization specifications. Configure image and flavor mappings. Configure storage and network mappings. Configure projects. Configure content sources and items.

Update History

The Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution is updated when necessary.

Revision	Description
29 AUG 2023	This validated solution now includes Appendix: Default Password Policy Settings for Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation for quick reference. This validated solution now supports VMware Cloud Foundation 4.5.2. The VMware.PowerCLI PowerShell module is now version 13.1.0. The ImportExcel PowerShell module is now version 7.8.5. The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 2.6.0.
25 JUL 2023	The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 2.5.0.
27 JUN 2023	This validated solution now supports VMware Cloud Foundation 5.0. The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 2.4.0.
30 MAY 2023	The following solution-added product names are changing: VMware vRealize Automation Cloud is now VMware Aria Automation VMware Cloud Assembly is now VMware Aria Automation Assembler VMware Service Broker is now VMware Aria Automation Service Broker VMware vRealize Orchestrator is now VMware Aria Automation Orchestrator For more information on the VMware Aria rebranding, see Multi-Cloud Management and VMware Aria. This validated solution now supports VMware Cloud Foundation 4.5.1. The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 2.3.0.
25 APR 2023	The VMware.PowerCLI PowerShell module is now version 13.0.0. The VMware.vSphere.SsoAdmin PowerShell module is now version 1.3.9. The ImportExcel PowerShell module is now version 7.8.4. The PowerVCF PowerShell module is now version 2.3.0 The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 2.2.0.
28 MAR 2023	The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 2.1.0.
28 FEB 2023	This validated solution now updates the password management design with password policy configuration guidance. See Password Management Design for Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation. This validated solution now provides guidance on the following password policy configuration procedures: Configure the Local User Password Expiration Policy of the Cloud Proxy and Cloud Extensibility Proxy Appliances for Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation Configure the Local User Password Complexity Policy for the Cloud Proxy and Cloud Extensibility Proxy Appliances for Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation Configure the Local User Account Lockout Policy for the Cloud Proxy and Cloud Extensibility Proxy Appliances for Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation This validated solution now provides guidance on persona management. See Personas in Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation. The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 2.0.1.
31 JAN 2023	The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 2.0.0.
29 NOV 2022	This validated solution now provides guidance on the following procedures: Replace the Certificate of the VMware Aria Automation Orchestrator Instance for Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation Retrust the New Certificate for VMware Aria Automation Orchestrator with VMware Aria Automation Assembler for Cloud-Based Automation for VMware Cloud Foundation The VMware.PowerCLI PowerShell module is now version 12.7.0. The VMware.vSphere.SsoAdmin PowerShell module is now version 1.3.8. The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 1.10.0.
25 OCT 2022	This validated solution now supports VMware Cloud Foundation 4.5. The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 1.9.0.
27 SEP 2022	Initial release.