Overview on Deploying and Configuring the SDDC Manager Appliance in VMware Cloud Foundation

Introduction

• SDDC Manager: Used for administrative tasks in a VMware Cloud Foundation private cloud.
  • Tasks include adding and managing hosts, creating workload domains, deploying and recycling vCenter clusters, tracking and applying software updates, managing passwords, and certificates.

SDDC Manager UI

• Provides an integrated view of the physical and virtual infrastructure of the private cloud.
• Centralized access for managing resources.
• Runs as a single virtual machine in the management domain.
• Default deployment: 4 CPUs, 16 GB memory.
• Protection: Combination of vSphere HA and file-based backups.

Deployment

• Bundled with the VMware Cloud Builder appliance, downloadable from VMware Customer Connect.
• Requires:
  • Cloud Builder OVA file.
  • Deployment parameter workbook.
• Cloud Builder OVA: Large file containing software for SDDC (vSphere, vSAN, NSX, SDDC Manager).
• Deployed during the Cloud Builder bring-up process.

Post-Deployment Configuration Tasks

Backups

• Use of file-based backups to protect SDDC Manager.
• External SFTP server configuration required for backup storage.
• UI allows:
  • Viewing last backup status.
  • Scheduling backups.
  • Configuring SFTP server settings (IP, Port, Protocol, User Credentials, Backup Directory).
• SSH access required for some tasks including password retrieval and log file viewing.

Retrieving Passwords

• lookup-passwords command used to query SDDC Manager database for passwords of deployed components (e.g., vCenter server instances, NSX components).
• Access requires valid SSO credentials.

Viewing Log Files

• Logs are organized in separate directories (e.g., domain manager, operations manager, LCM).
• Logs are automatically rotated, with older logs archived in compressed files.
• SSH access is needed to view and retrieve logs for troubleshooting or VMware support.

Network Pools

• Configure Network Pools to manage IP addresses for vMotion and vSAN VMkernel interfaces on ESXi hosts.
• Initial network pool created during bring-up.
• Network pools configured under Network Settings in the UI.
• Steps:
  • Create network pool.
  • Provide VLAN, MTU, and IP settings.
  • Assign a block of IPs for relevant VMkernel interfaces.

Software Updates

• Register SDDC Manager with the online depot for software updates.
• Registration via VMware Customer Connect credentials.
• SDDC Manager will detect available update bundles.
• Options to download bundles immediately or schedule for later.
• Download history includes downloaded bundles.

Final Recommendations

• After configuration (network pools, registration with online depot), take a backup of SDDC Manager.
• Backups are password protected.
• For more information, visit the Cloud Foundation Resource Center at core.vmware.com.