This topic describes the VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Integrated Edition Management Console (TKGI MC) deployment experience on VMware vSphere.
Overview
TKGI Management Console provides a graphical user interface and unified installation experience for configuring and deploying TKGI to vSphere.
The TKGI Management Console automates deployment of the following:
- Ops Manager
- BOSH Director
- VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Integrated Edition
- Harbor Registry
The TKGI Management Console also automates:
- Configuring TKGI networking
- Generating and registering SSL certificates
The TKGI Management Console is provided as a virtual appliance that you deploy to vSphere by using an OVA template. If you are experienced with installing TKGI on vSphere, the help and the tool tips in the installer UI provide enough information to complete the process. If you are new to TKGI, refer to the following documentation as needed to assist with the installation:
- Prerequisites for Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Integrated Edition Management Console Deployment
- Deploy the Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Integrated Edition Management Console
- Deploy Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Integrated Edition from the Management Console
Decide When to Use TKGI Management Console
The TKGI Management Console provides an opinionated process for deploying Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Integrated Edition.
Whether to use the TKGI MC depends on your situation:
When Should I Use TKGI Management Console?
Use the TKGI Management Console to simplify deploying TKGI to less complex vSphere environments.
Users on vSphere who do not have a custom Ops Manager installation might prefer to install TKGI using the curated workflow provided by the TKGI Management Console.
When Should I Not Use TKGI Management Console?
Users who already have Ops Manager installed for other uses, for example to run VMware Tanzu Application Service for VMs, might prefer to install TKGI using Ops Manager. Also, if you require more flexibility in configuring your TKGI deployment, especially in complex NSX-T Data Center deployments, it might be more appropriate to install TKGI using Ops Manager.
Do not use the TKGI Management Console if any the following conditions apply to your environment, they are not supported:
- Deployments to a No-NAT topology with a vSphere Standard Switch or a vSphere Distributed Switch.
- Multi-Foundation deployments.
Before using TKGI Management Console to deploy TKGI, consider the following factors:
- If you want to deploy TKGI Management Console to a No-NAT topology with an NSX-T Data Center logical switch, you must perform a BYOT deployment.
- Deployments to a Multi-Tier-0 topology are supported in BYOT deployments only and require additional configuration. For information about the additional configuration required, see Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Integrated Edition Management Console Cannot Retrieve Cluster Data in a Multi-Tier0 Topology in Troubleshooting Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Integrated Edition Management Console.
For information about the supported topologies for a manual installation, see NSX-T Deployment Topologies for TKGI.
Use the TKGI Management Console After Installing TKGI
After you have deployed Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Integrated Edition on vSphere, you can use the TKGI Management Console to deploy Kubernetes clusters and manage their lifecycle, and monitor and manage the operation of your Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Integrated Edition deployment. For information about how to use the TKGI Management Console after deployment, see the following topics:
