About Intelligent Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation

The Intelligent Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution provides information on the use of a network analysis tool, that helps you build an optimized, highly available and secure network infrastructure. The solution provides network visibility and analytics to accelerate micro-segmentation security, minimize risk during application migration, optimize network performance, and confidently manage and scale VMware NSX, VMware SD-WAN, and Kubernetes deployments.

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, 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 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 Intelligent Network Visibility 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 Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution is intended for cloud architects and administrators who are familiar with and want to use VMware Software and an Intelligent Network Visibility solution for VMware Cloud Foundation.

Support Matrix

The Intelligent Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution is compatible is compatible with these specific versions of VMware products.

Table 1. Software Components in Intelligent Network Visibility 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 Networks 6.14.0
		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 Networks 6.13.0
		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 Networks 6.13.0
		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 Networks 6.13.0
		VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle 8.18.0

Table 2. End of General Support Software Components in Private Cloud 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. VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle 8.10.0 (EOGS)
	Solution-added products	VMware Aria Operations for Networks 6.12.1
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 Networks 6.12.1

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 Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution, your environment must have a certain configuration.

Table 3. Supported VMware Cloud Foundation Deployment

VI 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 configuration of Active Directory over LDAP. See the Identity and Access Management for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution.

Overview of Intelligent Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation

By applying the Intelligent Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution, you implement centralized intelligent network visibility for the components of VMware Cloud Foundation.

Table 4. Implementation Overview of Intelligent Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation

Stage	Steps
1. Plan and prepare the VMware Cloud Foundation environment.	Work with the technology team of your organization to configure 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. Provide centralized network visibility and analytics to management and workload components of VMware Cloud Foundation.	Deploy a VMware Aria Operations for Networks Platform Node. Add VMware Aria Operations for Networks Collector Node in each VMware Cloud Foundation instance. Configure data sources for VMware Aria Operations for Networks. Configure each vCenter Server as a data source. Configure each NSX Manager as a data source.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Update History

This Intelligent Network Visibility 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. This validated solution now supports VMware Aria Operations for Networks 6.14.0. 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	This validated solution now supports VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2.0. This validated solution now provides a single procedure for PowerShell automation. See Automated PowerShell Implementation of Intelligent Network Visibility This validated solution now provides guidance on importing all necessary OVAs for the deployment of VMware Aria Operations for Networks in a vSphere Content library. See Import the VMware Aria Operations for Networks OVA to vSphere Content Library for Intelligent Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation. This validated solution now provides the following solution interoperability guidance: Logging for Intelligent Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation Configure the Logging Service in VMware Aria Operations for Networks for Intelligent Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation Integrate VMware Aria Operations for Networks with VMware Aria Operations for Intelligent Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation Configure the VMware Aria Operations for Networks Management Pack in VMware Aria Operations for Intelligent Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation Configure Credentials for VMware Aria Operations for Networks in VMware Aria Operations for Intelligent Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation This validated solution now uses the PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module to generate a Microsoft CA signed certificate. See Generate the Certificate for VMware Aria Operations for Networks and Import it in VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle for Intelligent Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 2.11.0.
28 MAY 2024	The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 2.10.0.
26 MAR 2024	This validated solution now supports VMware Cloud Foundation 5.1.1. This validated solution now supports VMware Aria Operations for Networks 6.12.1. This validated solution now provides guidance on deploying VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle in a disconnected environment. See the following: Apply a Product Support Pack to VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle for Intelligent Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation The PowerValidatedSolutions PowerShell module is now version 2.9.0. The VMware.PowerCLI PowerShell module is now version 13.2.1.
30 JAN 2024	Initial release.