For any cluster that you manage with a single image or with baselines, you can start using vSphere Configuration Profiles. The transition workflow allows you to enable vSphere Configuration Profiles on an existing cluster and set up the desired configuration for the cluster.

The transition workflow for a cluster that you manage with a single image starts with eligibility checks on the cluster and hosts. If the cluster is not eligible, the transition workflow cannot proceed. If the cluster is eligible, user can import a configuration from a host in the cluster or from a JSON file. The configuration is then validated. You can edit the configuration at this stage by using the export and import options. vSphere Configuration Profiles runs a pre-check to ensure that the configuration can be applied to all hosts. After you confirm the enablement of vSphere Configuration Profiles, eligibility checks are re-run and the cluster is remediated against the configuration that you set up.

Starting with vSphere 8.0 Update 3, you can enable vSphere Configuration Profiles on a cluster that you manage with baselines. The transition workflow starts with selecting a reference host which configuration schema is imported and used as a desired cluster configuration schema.

Starting with vSphere 8.0 Update 1, you can enable vSphere Configuration Profiles on a cluster that uses a vSphere Distributed Switch.

Note: Staring with vSphere 8.0 Update 3, vSphere Configuration Profiles can manage the vSphere Distributed Switch configuration of the hosts in a cluster managed with a single image.
To manage any drifts related to the vSphere Distributed Switch configuration, you can use both options:
  • The vSphere Distributed Switch workflows described in the vSphere Networking documentation
  • The vSphere Configuration Profiles workflows described in this chapter.

Prerequisites

  • Verify that vCenter Server and ESXi are 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 if the cluster uses vSphere Distributed Switch, vCenter Server and all ESXi hosts in the cluster are of version 8.0 Update 1 and later.
  • Verify that if the cluster uses vSphere Distributed Switch and you want to manage the vSphere Distributed Switch configuration with vSphere Configuration Profiles, vCenter Server and ESXi are of version 8.0 Update 3 and later.
  • Verify that the cluster is not empty.
  • Verify that all hosts in the cluster are compliant with the image for the cluster if the cluster is managed with a single image.
  • Verify that NSX is not enabled on the cluster.
  • Verify that you have the required privileges for the transitioning operation. 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 a cluster that you manage with baselines.
  2. On the Configure tab, click Desired State > Configuration.
  3. Click Create configuration.
    The Check Cluster Eligibility for Transition task starts to ensure that the cluster is eligible for transitioning to vSphere Configuration Profiles.
  4. In the Manage configuration at cluster level pane, follow the prompts to set up a desired configuration for the cluster and apply it to all hosts. Follow the Manage configuration at cluster level workflow prompts to transition a cluster that you manage with a single image to using vSphere Configuration Profiles.
    1. Under Create configuration, select an import option and click Next.
      • To import the configuration from a reference a host within the cluster, click Import from reference host, select the reference host, and confirm the import.
        Note: This option is available for a cluster that you manage with baselines and for a cluster that you manage with a single image.
      • To import the configuration from a JSON file that you created or edited, click Import from file, locate the JSON file with the configuration that you want to import and confirm the import.
        Note: This option is only available for a cluster that you manage with a single image.
      The Validate Configuration for Transition task starts to ensure that the imported configuration is valid and can be used as the desired configuration for the cluster.
    2. (Optional) Under Validate configuration, view the validation messages and edit the imported configuration.
      • Click Export configuration to download the current configuration document and edit its settings.
      • Click Export configuration schema to download the JSON file that represents the configuration schema.
      • Click Import configuration to import the edited configuration document back into the cluster.
    3. Click Next.
      The Precheck Configuration for Transition tasks starts to ensure that the configuration can be applied to all hosts successfully.
    4. Under Pre-check and apply, view pre-check details and remediation impact and click Finish and apply.
    5. In the Finish and apply dialog box, confirm that you want to apply the configuration to all hosts in the cluster.
      vSphere Configuration Profiles is enabled for the cluster and the cluster is remediated against the configuration you set up during this operation.
    6. (Optional) Click Go to configuration to view and edit the cluster configuration settings.
    You can cancel the transition at any stage of the workflow. Later, if you did not discard the changes that you made during the transition workflow, you can resume the transition and use the configuration imported before canceling the transition operation. If you want to start the whole process anew, discard all your changes. When you discard your changes, the imported configuration is also deleted.

Results

The cluster now uses vSphere Configuration Profiles to manage the configuration of its hosts. All hosts in the cluster are compliant with the desired configuration you set up during the transitioning operation.

What to do next

View the current desired cluster configuration. For more information, see View Host Settings in the Desired Configuration. You can also create a draft configuration and edit the host settings in the vSphere Client. For more information, see Create a Draft Configuration in vSphere Client.