VMware Cloud Foundation: Solution Architecture and Design [v9.1]

Module 1: Introduction

Learn how to approach VMware Cloud Foundation as an architectural platform and understand the principles that guide design decisions.

You will:

• Explain the value of VCF from an operational cost perspective
• Understand what VMware Cloud Foundation 9.1 consolidates and which areas still require architectural design
• Identify the different personas served by a private cloud and the decisions they influence
• Describe the five AMPRS design qualities and their trade-offs
• Structure design decisions around requirements, decisions, justification, and implications

Module 2: Fleet Designs and Blueprints

Learn how VMware Cloud Foundation components are organized and how different fleet deployment models can be selected based on business and technical requirements.

You will:

• Understand how Fleet, Instance, Domain, Cluster, and Host constructs relate to each other
• Select fleet deployment and sizing models
• Design a fleet using published blueprints and Design Library models
• Select edge design patterns based on site count, WAN requirements, and autonomy needs
• Differentiate between the three recovery tiers and determine when each should be used

Module 3: Fleet Components

Explore the central components required to support a VMware Cloud Foundation fleet and learn how to design them for availability and operational requirements.

You will:

• Size VCF Operations analytics clusters based on object count and availability requirements
• Select appropriate License Server models
• Understand which services run on the VCF Management Services runtime
• Compare Simple and High Availability VCF Management Services models
• Design log management retention, partitioning, and archiving
• Design the deployment of Identity Broker as a per-instance service

Module 4: Instance, Domain and Cluster Designs

Learn how to structure VCF instances and design management and workload domains.

You will:

• Understand Instance, Domain, and Cluster constructs
• Design a Management Domain based on sizing, storage, networking, and reserve requirements
• Determine appropriate placement for management components
• Decide how many Workload Domains are required and what each should isolate
• Select cluster models and vSAN cluster types
• Determine host requirements based on storage policies and capacity needs

Module 5: Consumption

Explore how consumers access services within VMware Cloud Foundation and how the consumption layer should be designed.

You will:

• Identify the available paths consumers can use to access the platform
• Design VCF Automation tenancy from Organizations through to quota
• Select between All Apps and VM Apps Organization models
• Understand Supervisor activation and associated architectural decisions
• Design the infrastructure required for VKS clusters and related services
• Determine the placement of VCF Operations Orchestrator, Harbor, DSM, and Private AI

Module 6: Physical Datacenter Architecture

Learn how physical infrastructure affects VMware Cloud Foundation architecture.

You will:

• Understand the physical layers that make up a VCF-ready datacenter
• Size power and cooling for environments containing virtual machines, containers, and accelerated AI workloads
• Design leaf-spine network fabrics that meet bandwidth, latency, and MTU requirements
• Select between single-site, multi-site, and multi-region architectures
• Determine CPU, memory, NVMe, and network uplink requirements for ReadyNodes
• Understand how NUMA and the VCF 9.1 Topology Aware Scheduler influence workload placement

Module 7: Networking

Learn how to design network architecture for VMware Cloud Foundation from physical connectivity through workload traffic.

You will:

• Design VLAN and MTU requirements end to end
• Select appropriate distributed switch models based on available physical adapters
• Compare centralized and distributed connectivity
• Determine how workloads connect to the network and where traffic should be inspected
• Evaluate NSX Load Balancer, Avi Load Balancer, and existing application delivery controller solutions

Module 8: Storage Design

Explore the storage options available in VMware Cloud Foundation and learn how to design storage based on workload and infrastructure requirements.

You will:

• Select principal and supplemental storage models
• Understand vSAN Express Storage Architecture and its data services
• Design storage policies and calculate raw capacity requirements
• Design vSAN networking, encryption, and operational models
• Integrate Kubernetes persistent storage using vSAN storage policies
• Design NFS and Fibre Channel storage where existing storage arrays are used

Module 9: Management Domain Backup and Restore

Learn how to design backup, restore, and disaster recovery capabilities for VMware Cloud Foundation management components.

You will:

• Design backup coverage for VCF management components
• Size SFTP targets based on backup size, retention, and number of instances
• Define the dependency order for full instance restore
• Understand the Instance Recovery Toolkit and its prerequisites
• Design fleet disaster recovery across two instances in separate regions
• Evaluate the recovery point and recovery time available through each recovery tier