VMware Cloud Foundation: Build, Manage and Secure [V9.1]

Module 1: Course Introduction

The course begins with an overview of VMware Cloud Foundation, its architecture, licensing, and the areas covered throughout the training.

You will:

• Describe VMware Cloud Foundation components, architecture, and supported Private Cloud use cases
• Explain the VMware Cloud Foundation licensing model and available license types
• Review the course areas covering deployment, fleet management, networking, storage, lifecycle, and security

Module 2: VCF Private Cloud: Overview and Architecture

Explore the architecture of VMware Cloud Foundation and understand how the different Private Cloud components work together.

You will:

• Define key VMware Cloud Foundation features and use cases
• Describe integrated security capabilities across the VCF platform
• Explore advanced services and operational capabilities
• Describe fleet-level and instance-level components
• Identify roles and capabilities within a VCF Private Cloud environment

Module 3: VCF Private Cloud Deployment

Learn how to plan and deploy a new VMware Cloud Foundation fleet using the VCF Installer.

You will:

• Identify deployment considerations and planning requirements
• Use the Planning and Preparation Workbook
• Outline the VCF Private Cloud deployment sequence
• Describe the configuration of instance and fleet management components
• Deploy a VCF fleet using the VCF Installer wizard or a deployment specification JSON file

Module 4: VCF Post-Deployment Tasks

After the initial deployment, you will configure and manage the additional components required to operate the environment.

You will:

• Explore VCF Operations for Networks, VCF Operations for Logs, and VCF Identity Broker
• Understand deployment models and considerations for VCF Operations components
• Work with Real-Time Metrics
• Deploy and navigate VCF Operations components
• Perform post-deployment management tasks

Module 5: VCF Fleet Management

Learn how to manage identities, access, licensing, and credentials across a VMware Cloud Foundation fleet.

You will:

• Work with capacity pooling, primary licenses, add-on licenses, and VCF 9.1 licensing procedures
• Configure VCF Single Sign-On and VCF Identity Broker
• Configure supported directories and identity providers
• Manage role-based access control, users, and user groups
• Manage credentials and password workflows
• Explore API options for automating credential management

Module 6: VCF Workload Domain

Learn how to design, create, and maintain workload domains within VMware Cloud Foundation.

You will:

• Explain workload domains and relevant vSphere, networking, and storage design considerations
• Identify prerequisites for workload domain design
• Create workload domains using VCF Operations
• Configure vCenter linked groups
• Add hosts and clusters to workload domains
• Import an existing vCenter as a workload domain and understand applicable limitations

Module 7: VCF Networking

Explore VMware NSX networking within VMware Cloud Foundation, including overlay networking and Virtual Private Cloud constructs.

You will:

• Identify the management, control, and data planes within NSX
• Explore Geneve encapsulation, TEP configuration, and Traceflow
• Configure Virtual Private Clouds and VPC subnets
• Understand network connectivity during VCF Fleet deployment
• Work with Distributed and Centralized Transit Gateways

Module 8: VCF Storage Management

Learn how VMware Cloud Foundation manages storage and how vSAN can be configured, monitored, and maintained.

You will:

• Describe principal and supplemental storage models
• Explain vSAN networking and hardware requirements
• Configure vSAN clusters and storage policies
• Configure vSAN fault domains
• Manage vSAN cluster operations
• Analyze vSAN performance using VCF Operations
• Generate storage reports using monitoring capabilities in VCF Operations

Module 9: VCF Certificate Management

Learn how certificates are managed across VMware Cloud Foundation and how external certificate authorities can be integrated.

You will:

• Review public key infrastructure concepts and certificate signing requests
• Explore CA options supported by SDDC Manager
• Manage certificates using SDDC Manager workflows
• Integrate VCF Operations with Microsoft CA and OpenSSL CA
• Install and manage certificates from Microsoft CA, OpenSSL CA, and third-party certificate authorities

Module 10: VCF Lifecycle Management

Learn how to maintain VMware Cloud Foundation throughout its lifecycle, including software management, patching, upgrades, backup, and recovery.

You will:

• Configure and use the software depot in VCF Operations
• Manage software depot content, storage, and bundle assignments
• Patch and upgrade VCF management and fleet components
• Configure backup and restore procedures
• Work with SFTP, SDDC Manager, and fleet management nodes
• Execute backup and restore operations for fleet-level and VCF management components

Module 11: VCF Security

Explore the integrated security capabilities available across VMware Cloud Foundation.

You will:

• Define security, compliance, and resilience principles in VCF
• Understand integrated security capabilities across the platform
• Assess compliance using Security Posture Management
• Monitor security health using the Security Operations Dashboard
• Analyze security events through the Audit Trail
• Explore unified Protection and Recovery workflows

Module 12: VCF Upgrade Paths

The final module focuses on supported migration and upgrade scenarios for VMware Cloud Foundation 9.1.

You will:

• Identify supported upgrade paths and compatibility requirements for VCF 9.1
• Understand the upgrade process from vSphere 8.0 to VCF 9.1
• Explore upgrade scenarios involving vSphere 8.0 and multiple Aria components
• Understand the upgrade path from VCF 5.2 with Aria components
• Compare the existing vSphere deployment upgrade path with the vCenter import process