Implement vPAC Ready Infrastructure

Implementing the vPAC Ready Infrastructure validated solution includes configuring ESXi, vCenter Server, and customizing vPAC workloads to enable optimal performance. The initial configuration of vSAN is also demonstrated in this chapter.

This guidance provides a prescriptive path for deploying ESXi, vSphere, and the VMs that host the applications provided by a vPAC vendor. For more information on other deployment options and configurations, see the vSphere documentation page.

Prerequisites

• Verify that the server hardware to be used is available and ready to install VMware ESXi.

• Verify that the required VMware software is obtained (such as ISO files for ESXi and vCenter Server Appliance, if not already existing).

• Verify that the physical network infrastructure exists and the connectivity is available between servers and to vCenter (which might be located off premises).

• Verify that PTP timing is available on the network through compatible switches and server onboarding NIC devices, in the form of 1588v2 and any additional protocol extensions required for specific vPAC appliances to be deployed.

Procedure

1. Configure Physical Servers.

   Server BIOS settings must be changed to optimize performance for the real-time vPAC workloads and ensure best performance.

2. Establish vSphere Environment.

   ESXi must be installed and configured on each host server before connecting to vCenter. The vCenter Server Appliance is itself a VM to be deployed on ESXi, and therefore its host environment must also be prepared.

3. Configure vSphere Client.

   After the required software components are installed, each host can be configured within vCenter, a compute cluster can be created, and virtual networking can be constructed.