You run a remediation pre-check to ensure that the desired configuration is valid and compatible with the current state of the hosts in the cluster, and that the cluster is in good health. You run a draft pre-check to ensure that the draft configuration is valid and can be applied on all hosts in the cluster. A pre-check that finds no issues means that you can successfully remediate the cluster and apply the desired or draft configuration to all hosts.

With vSphere 8.0 Update 2, you can create a draft of the cluster configuration in the vSphere Client and edit the configuration settings directly in the user interface. Before applying the draft configuration on a cluster, you can run a draft pre-check.

During a remediation or a draft pre-check, vSphere Configuration Profiles runs various checks on each host and the entire cluster to estimate and validate the impact of the desired or the draft configuration on the current state of the hosts in the cluster. The remediation and draft pre-checks also compute the remediation impact on the hosts.

With vSphere 8.0 Update 1, you can enable vSphere Configuration Profiles on a cluster that has hosts connected to a vSphere Distributed Switch. If you add a host that is connected to a vSphere Standard Switch to such cluster, the remediation pre-check returns an error and you cannot remediate the cluster before you manually add this host to the vSphere Distributed Switch. For more information about how to add a host to a vSphere Distributed Switch, see the vSphere Networking documentation.

Note: In vSphere 8.0 Update 3, vSphere Configuration Profiles can manage the vSphere Distributed Switch configuration of the hosts in a cluster managed with a desired configuration. You can also use the workflows for managing and configuring the vSphere Distributed Switches described in the vSphere Networking documentation.

Prerequisites

  • Verify that vCenter Server is of version 8.0 Update 1 or later, if you want to run a remediation pre-check of the desired configuration on a cluster that you manage with a single image.
  • Verify that vCenter Server is of version 8.0 Update 2 or later, if you want to run a draft pre-check on a cluster that you manage with a single image..

  • Verify that you have a draft configuration created, if you want to run a draft pre-check.

  • Verify that ESXi is of version 8.0 Update 1 or later for using vSphere Configuration Profiles on a cluster that you manage with a single image
  • Verify that vCenter Server and ESXi are of version 8.0 Update 3 or later for using vSphere Configuration Profiles on a cluster that you manage with baselines.
  • Verify that you have the required license.
  • Verify that you have the required privileges for running a remediation or a draft pre-check task. See Required Privileges for Using vSphere Configuration Profiles.

Procedure

  1. In the vSphere Client, navigate to a cluster that you manage with a single image or to a cluster that you manage with baselines.
  2. On the Configure tab, click Desired State > Configuration.
  3. Start a pre-check by selecting one of the following options.
    • To run a remediation pre-check of the current desired configuration, on the Compliance tab, click Run pre-check.

      The Cluster Configuration Remediation Pre-Check task starts.

    • To run a draft pre-check of the edited cluster configuration, on the Draft tab, click Run pre-check.

      The Cluster Configuration Draft Pre-check task starts.

  4. (Optional) Click the Operation Details tab to view details about the remediation or draft pre-check operations.
    The Operation Details tab gives summarized information or detailed information about the remediation operation, the remediation pre-check, or the draft pre-check operations. Any issues during those operations are also listed on the Operation Details tab.

What to do next

Fix all issues that are reported during the remediation or the draft pre-check and remediate the cluster.