Run the Easy Deploy orchestration workflow agains the VCF domain to deploy and configure NSX Advanced Load Balancer Controller cluster.

The flow of actions for the automation process are:

  1. Create NSX Advanced Load Balancer virtual machine folder.

  2. Create deployment VM Tags, used by the Easy Deploy Appliance for registration and association. The tags created are as follows:

    1. AVI_CONTROLLER_WORKLOAD-DOMAIN

    2. WORKLOAD-DOMAIN_DOMAIN_NAME

    3. SDDC_MANAGER

    4. WORKLOAD-DOMAIN-vCenter_Server

    5. WORKLOAD-DOMAIN_NSXT-Server

  3. Create Content Library, if required.

  4. Deploy Controller Node(s). Deploy 3 Controller Nodes, if Cluster is defined.

  5. Wait for Controller Node(s) to deploy and services to start.

  6. Configure initial system settings on Leader Node.

  7. Configure Controller Cluster.

  8. Wait for Controller Cluster configuration to complete.

Deployment Process

The following is the procedure to deploy Advanced Load Balancing for VMware Cloud Foundation:

  1. In a web browser, navigate to the Easy Deploy Menu (https://easy_deploy_ip/menu)

  2. Under Ecosystem, click OPEN on the VMware Cloud Foundation panel.

  3. If the VMware Cloud Foundation Integration screen is empty, click Register/ Refresh.

  4. Specify the following in the Register VCF Installation pop-up window:

    1. If you have an Unlock Passphrase:

      Setting

      Value

      Type of Registration

      "Unlock VCF Installation"

      Unlock Passphrase

      Provide your unlock passphrase.

      1. Click UNLOCK.

    2. If you do not have an Unlock Passphrase:

      Setting

      Value

      Type of Registration

      Register VCF Installation

      SDDC Manager FQDN

      Provide your SDDC Manager FQDN of your VCF installation.

      Username

      Provide your SDDC Manager username information.

      Password

      Provide your SDDC Manager password information.

      1. Click Register.

  5. For the WLD that you would like to deploy Advanced Load Balancing on, click the associated Actions button.

  6. Click INITIALIZE.

  7. In the Deployment pop-up window, specify the following in the Deployment Details section:

    Setting

    Value

    Available Images

    Select a NSX Advanced Load Balancer deployment image version.

    Deployment Size

    Select the NSX Advanced Load Balancer controller deployment size. See Sizing Guidelines.

  8. Click NEXT.

  9. Specify the following in the vSphere Details section:

    Setting

    Value

    Datacenter

    Select a datacenter for deployment.

    Cluster

    Select a cluster for deployment.

    Datastore

    Select a datastore for deployment.

    Do you want to create a new content library?

    If you want to use an EXISTING Content Library then select a Content Library for deployment.

    If you want to use a NEW Content Library then provide a name for the new Content Library.

  10. Click NEXT.

  11. Specify the following in the Controller Setup section:

    Setting

    Value

    Controller Credentials

    You have the option to configure a password for the NSX Advanced Load Balancer Controller. If Password and Confirm Password is left blank, a strong password will be generated.

    Cluster

    Enable to create 3-Node Cluster.

    Cluster IP

    Enable to configure Cluster IP.

    DNS Server

    At least one DNS entry is required. By default, a DNS server is pulled from the vCenter configuration.

    DHCP

    Enable to utilize DHCP for Controller Management Network.

    Network Port group

    Select a port group for Management Network.

    Network/CIDR

    Provide a network subnet for management. (Hidden, if DHCP)

    Gateway

    Provide gateway address for management. (Hidden, if DHCP)

  12. Click NEXT.

  13. Specify the following in the Controller IP Configuration section:

    Setting

    Value

    Controller IP 1

    Provide IP address for Controller 1

    Controller IP 2

    Provide IP address for Controller 2

    Controller IP 3

    Provide IP address for Controller 3

    Cluster IP

    Provide IP address for Controller Cluster. (Hidden if Cluster IP not selected)

  14. Click NEXT.

  15. Review details and click DEPLOY.

  16. On the VMware Cloud Foundation Integration screen, the WLD configured and any WLD that shares the underlying NSX-T Manager Status will change from NOT INITIALIZED to DEPLOYING %.

  17. Click the Expand button beside the configured WLD to view the Deployment Status. This process can take up to one hour to complete. If the deployment fails, you will be presented with the error output and the option to roll back and destroy the deployed elements.