The Intelligent Logging and Analytics for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution provides information on the use of a log analysis tool that delivers highly scalable log management with intuitive and actionable dashboards, sophisticated analytics, and broad third-party extensibility. The solution provides deep operational visibility and fast troubleshooting across physical, virtual, and cloud environments.

A VMware by Broadcom validated solution is a well-architected and validated implementation, built and tested by VMware to help customers deliver common business use cases. VMware validated solutions are operational, cost-effective, performant, 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 implementation tasks for some design decisions. 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 Intelligent Logging and Analytics for VMware Cloud Foundation implementation, this document provides Microsoft PowerShell cmdlets using an open-source module as code-based alternatives to completing certain procedures in each SDDC component's user interface.

For additional information, see PowerShell Module for VMware Validated Solutions.

Intended Audience

The Intelligent Logging and Analytics for VMware Cloud Foundation documentation is intended for cloud architects and administrators who are familiar with and want to use VMware software and an intelligent logging and analytics solution for VMware Cloud Foundation.

Support Matrix

The Intelligent Logging and Analytics for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution is compatible with certain versions of the VMware products that are used for implementing the solution.

Table 1. Software Components in Intelligent Logging and Analytics for VMware Cloud Foundation

VMware Cloud Foundation Version

Product Group

Component Versions

5.2.1

Products part of VMware Cloud Foundation

See VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2.1 Release Notes.

Solution-added products

VMware Aria Operations for Logs 8.18.0

VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle 8.18.0

5.2.0

Products part of VMware Cloud Foundation

See VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2.0 Release Notes.

Solution-added products

VMware Aria Operations for Logs 8.18.0

VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle 8.18.0

5.1.1

Products part of VMware Cloud Foundation

See VMware Cloud Foundation 5.1.1 Release Notes.

Solution-added products

VMware Aria Operations for Logs 8.18.0

VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle 8.18.0

5.1.0

Products part of VMware Cloud Foundation

See VMware Cloud Foundation 5.1.0 Release Notes.

Solution-added products

VMware Aria Operations for Logs 8.18.0

VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle 8.18.0

Table 2. End of General Support Software Components in Intelligent Logging and Analytics 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.

VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle 8.10.0 (EOGS)

Solution-added products

VMware Aria Operations for Logs 8.10.0

4.5.2

Products part of VMware Cloud Foundation

See VMware Cloud Foundation 4.5.2 Release Notes.

VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle 8.10.0 (EOGS)

Solution-added products

VMware Aria Operations for Logs 8.10.0

4.5.1

Products part of VMware Cloud Foundation

See VMware Cloud Foundation 4.5.1 Release Notes.

vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager 8.8.2 (EOGS)

Solution-added products

vRealize Log Insight 8.8.2

4.5.0

Products part of VMware Cloud Foundation

See VMware Cloud Foundation 4.5.0 Release Notes.

vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager 8.8.2 (EOGS)

Solution-added products

vRealize Log Insight 8.8.2

4.4.1

Products part of VMware Cloud Foundation

See VMware Cloud Foundation 4.4.1 Release Notes.

Solution-added products

vRealize Log Insight 8.6.2 (EOGS)

4.4.0

Products part of VMware Cloud Foundation

See VMware Cloud Foundation 4.4.0 Release Notes.

Solution-added products

vRealize Log Insight 8.6.2 (EOGS)

4.3.1

Products part of VMware Cloud Foundation

See VMware Cloud Foundation 4.3.1 Release Notes.

Solution-added products

vRealize Log Insight 8.4.1 (EOGS)

4.3.0

Products part of VMware Cloud Foundation

See VMware Cloud Foundation 4.3.0 Release Notes.

Solution-added products

vRealize Log Insight 8.4 (EOGS)

Note:

The software component versions in this table are in End of General Support (EOGS) phase and are no longer generally supported by VMware. At the time of initial release and during the General Support phase, the software component versions in this solution are actively implemented, tested, and validated by VMware and VMware partners. See VMware Lifecycle Policies.

Before You Apply This Guidance

To design and implement the Intelligent Logging and Analytics for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution, your environment must have a certain configuration.

Table 3. Supported VMware Cloud Foundation Deployment

Workload Domain / Component

Deployment Details

Management domain

  • Automated deployment using VMware Cloud Builder™

  • Required availability of overlay-backed or VLAN-backed NSX segments in VMware NSX for traffic in the same VMware Cloud Foundation instance.

See the following VMware Cloud Foundation Documentation:

(Optional) One or more virtual infrastructure (VI) workload domains

Automated deployment using SDDC Manager.

See the following VMware Cloud Foundation Documentation:

VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle

Automated deployment by using SDDC Manager.

See the following VMware Cloud Foundation Documentation:

  • For information on designing VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle®, see VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle Design for VMware Cloud Foundation.

  • For information on deploying VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle, see Getting Started with VMware Cloud Foundation and VMware Cloud Foundation Operations and Administration Guide.

  • To ensure correct version support for VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle for your VMware Cloud Foundation version, follow the implementation guidance in this validated solution. See Deployment of VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle for Intelligent Logging and Analytics for VMware Cloud Foundation.

VMware Cloud Foundation integrated with Active Directory

Manual or PowerShell automated configuration of Active Directory over LDAP.

See the Identity and Access Management for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution.

Overview of Intelligent Logging and Analytics for VMware Cloud Foundation

By applying the Intelligent Logging and Analytics for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution, you implement centralized intelligent logging and analytics for the components of a VMware Cloud Foundation instance.

Table 4. Implementation Overview of Intelligent Logging and Analytics 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 save them in the VMware Cloud Foundation Planning and Preparation Workbook.

2. Activate centralized logging for the management and workload components of VMware Cloud Foundation.

  1. Deploy VMware Aria Operations for Logs in each VMware Cloud Foundation instance.

  2. Configure each management component to forward logs to VMware Aria Operations for Logs.

Frequently Asked Questions

For additional questions, see VMware Validated Solutions Frequently Asked Questions.

Update History

The Intelligent Logging and Analytics for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution is updated when necessary.

Revision

Description

09 OCT 2024

  • This validated solution now supports VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2.1.
  • The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 2.12.0.
  • The VMware.PowerCLI PowerShell module is now version 13.3.0.
  • The ImportExcel PowerShell module is now version 7.8.9.

23 JUL 2024

28 MAY 2024

  • The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 2.10.0.

26 MAR 2024

30 JAN 2024

07 NOV 2023

  • This validated solution now supports VMware Cloud Foundation 5.1.0.
  • The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 2.7.0.

  • The PowerVCF PowerShell module is now version 2.4.0.

  • The following solution-added product names are changing:

    • VMware vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager is now VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle

    • VMware vRealize Log Insight is now VMware Aria Operations for Logs

    • VMware vRealize Operations is now VMware Aria Operations

For more information on the VMware Aria rebranding, see Multi-Cloud Management and VMware Aria.

29 AUG 2023
25 JUL 2023

30 MAY 2023

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

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

  • 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 is 1.10.0.

25 OCT 2022

27 SEP 2022

The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 1.8.0.

31 MAY 2022

  • This validated solution now supports VMware Cloud Foundation 4.4.1.

  • The PowerVCF PowerShell module is now version 2.2.0.

  • The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 1.7.0.

28 APR 2022

The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 1.6.0 adding support for the Reconfigure the Collector Group for the VMware Aria Operations for Logs Integration for Intelligent Logging and Analytics for VMware Cloud Foundation procedure.

29 MAR 2022

22 FEB 2022

  • This validated solution now supports VMware Cloud Foundation 4.4.

  • This validated solution now requires installation of the ImportExcel PowerShell module.

  • The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 1.4.0.

  • The VMware.PowerCLI PowerShell module is now version 12.4.1.

  • Starting with VMware Cloud Foundation 4.4, installation and life cycle management of vRealize Log Insight is performed by using vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager. See Life Cycle Management Design for Intelligent Logging and Analytics for VMware Cloud Foundation.

25 JAN 2022

  • The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 1.3.0.
  • The VMware.vSphere.SsoAdmin PowerShell module is now version 1.3.7.

30 NOV 2021

26 OCT 2021

05 OCT 2021

This validated solution now supports VMware Cloud Foundation 4.3.1.

24 AUG 2021

Initial release.