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VMware Cloud Foundation

VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2.1.1

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 2 minutes read

VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2.1.1 Release Information

VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2.1.1 includes bug fixes and a new version of SDDC Manager.

You can upgrade to VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2.1.1 from VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2 or later.

Upgrading from 5.2.1:

SDDC Manager is the only component that requires an upgrade. See Independent SDDC Manager Upgrade using the SDDC Manager UI.

Upgrading from 5.2:

See Flexible BOM Upgrade in VMware Cloud Foundation. When selecting the target version for SDDC Manager choose the version listed in the BOM update table below.

Known issues:

  • In order to upgrade from 5.2 to 5.2.1.1, you must download the bundles for both SDDC Manager 5.2.1.0 and SDDC Manager 5.2.1.1.
  • The Bundle Management window in the SDDC Manager UI displays “VMware Cloud Foundation Update 5.2.1.0” instead of “VMware Cloud Foundation Update 5.2.1.1” for the 5.2.1.1 bundle. The description of the bundle correctly describes it as the upgrade bundle for 5.2.1.1. This is a cosmetic issue only and does not impact the upgrade.

VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2.1.1 contains the following BOM updates:

Software ComponentVersionDateBuild Number
SDDC Manager5.2.1.105 DEC 202424397777

Resolved Issues

The following issues are resolved in this release:

  • VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2 does not support the “License Now” option for vSAN add-on licenses based on capacity per tebibyte (TiB).
  • Remove unresponsive ESXi Host fails when SDDC Manager certificate does not have subject alternative name.

Upgrade Process

Take a snapshot or have a backup of SDDC Manager if anything goes wrong.

Update is downloading, should be ready within 10 minutes

Now that the upgrade is staged and the bundle has been automatically ingested you can start the upgrade!

The whole upgrade took – 20 minutes 22 seconds

Once your SDDC Manager is upgrade you may proceed to NSX and ESXi upgrades for this release, which the same upgrade process exists in my other blog posts.

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Hardware Reviews

Dell PowerEdge R740XD2 – Storage Upgrade

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 3 minutes read

A Powerful Workhorse for Data-Intensive Workloads

In the world of data centers, where performance and efficiency are paramount, Dell Technologies has introduced the PowerEdge R740xd2 server—a robust machine designed to handle the most demanding computing tasks. This server is a force to be reckoned with, offering unparalleled processing power, advanced scalability, and enhanced security features. That is why I upgraded from a Dell PowerEdge R740XD to the XD2, as well running TrueNAS Scale! Let’s dive into what makes this hardware a standout choice for businesses seeking to optimize their data infrastructure.

Key Features:

1. Performance Boost:

The R740xd2 is equipped with the latest Intel Xeon Scalable processors, delivering up to 48 cores per CPU. This massive processing power enables it to effortlessly handle large-scale computing, making it ideal for data-intensive applications such as machine learning, high-performance computing (HPC), and complex simulations. With support for up to 2 TB of memory, this server ensures lightning-fast data access and processing speeds.

2. Scalability and Flexibility:

One of the standout features of the PowerEdge R740xd2 is its modular design, allowing for easy expansion and customization. The server supports various configuration options, including different CPU models, multiple storage drives, and a wide range of peripheral devices. This flexibility ensures businesses can tailor their servers to specific needs, accommodating future growth without significant disruptions.

3. Enhanced Storage Capabilities:

Data centers rely on robust storage solutions, and the R740xd2 does not disappoint. It offers a variety of storage options, including hot-plug NVMe SSDs, SAS drives, and M.2 slots for additional flexibility. With support for up to eight internal hard drives or solid-state drives (SSDs), this server can deliver high throughput and low latency, ensuring fast data retrieval and improved performance.

4. Security at Every Level:

Dell has implemented several security measures in the R740xd2 to protect sensitive data. The server includes a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 for hardware-level security, as well as support for Dell Data Guard for advanced data protection and encryption. Additionally, the R740xd2 is compatible with various security protocols and offers remote management capabilities, ensuring your data remains secure even in remote deployments.

5. Efficient Design:

Despite its powerful capabilities, the PowerEdge R740xd2 is designed with energy efficiency in mind. Dell has incorporated advanced power management features, allowing the server to operate at optimal levels while minimizing power consumption. This not only reduces operational costs but also contributes to a more sustainable data center environment.

Use Cases:

  • AI and Machine Learning: The R740xd2’s processing prowess makes it an ideal platform for training and deploying AI models, enabling businesses to stay ahead in the era of intelligent computing.
  • Data Analytics: With its ability to handle vast amounts of data, this server is perfect for organizations conducting complex analytics, helping them gain valuable insights from their data repositories.
  • Cloud Services: The scalability and performance of the R740xd2 make it a strong candidate for building and hosting cloud infrastructure, enabling businesses to deliver services at scale.

Conclusion:

The Dell PowerEdge R740xd2 is a server designed to tackle the most challenging computing tasks with ease. Its impressive performance, scalability, and security features position it as a leader in the data center hardware market. Whether you’re an enterprise, a research institution, or a cloud service provider, this server can be a valuable asset, ensuring your data-intensive workloads are handled efficiently and securely.

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Education

New Updates on vExpert 2025 & VMUG Advantage Programs

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 4 minutes read

VMUG Advantage and VCF Licenses: A Cost-Effective Way to Stay Updated

If you’re looking for a way to stay ahead in your VMware career, look no further than the VMUG Advantage program. For just $210 per year, you get access to a wealth of benefits that will keep your skills sharp and your resume competitive. And did we mention that you also unlock exclusive VCF licenses?!

What’s Included with VMUG Advantage?

  • Exam Discounts: The VMUG Advantage program includes access to discounts for the VCF exam, which covers the most recent VMware products and features. This exam is a great way to validate your skills and knowledge. Exam Info Here (VCP-VCF Administrator)
  • VCF Licenses: With your VCF exam pass, you’ll receive three years of VCF licenses, giving you the flexibility to install and test VMware products for personal development for your home lab!
  • Broadcom Account: As a VMUG Advantage member, you’ll also gain access to a Broadcom account, where you can manage your licenses and access additional resources.
  • vExpert: In 2025, if you are within the vExpert family you automatically get a free VMUG Advantage membership and exclusive access to vExpert-only events and resources!

What are the Requirements?

The VMUG Advantage program is designed to benefit both beginners and experienced professionals. Here are the key requirements to getting VCF Licenses

  • You must be an active VMUG Advantage member. This includes signing up for the annual membership fee, which is typically a small fraction of the total cost of the benefits you unlock. The cost for VMUG Advantage is $210.00 a year! Really great cost for the amount of benefits you will receive from VMUG Advantage Program.
  • A valid VMware Certified Professional – VMware Cloud Foundation 2024 certification is required. If you don’t currently hold a VCP-VCF, you can use the VMUG Advantage subscription to get a discount code for the exam and gain the necessary credentials for VCF License.

The vExpert program is designed to benefit influencers and bloggers and vloggers to showcase and spread knowledge within the community and be a voice!

To be eligible for vExpert status, you must: (More Info here)

  • Qualifications for the vExpert Award
    To qualify for the vExpert award, you need to be actively sharing your VMware expertise with the community. For the 2025 award, judges will review your content from the previous year, 2024.
  • Here’s how you can earn the vExpert Award
    Activities should be completed outside your day job and must be your original work. Ways to qualify are listed below; some categories are auto-approved, while others depend on the quality and volume of your contributions.
  • Here are several ways to qualify
    Blogging: Write blog posts on VMware products or events like VMware Explore to educate and engage the community.
    Code Sharing: Share custom code or tools via websites, apps, VMware {code}, or internal channels.
    Enterprise/Internal Influencer: Lead knowledge-sharing sessions within your organization, such as webinars or workshops on VMware solutions.
    Event Speaking: Present at VMUG meetings, VMware Explore, or other conferences to inspire and educate peers.
    Podcasting: Host or co-host a regular podcast on VMware topics, sharing valuable insights with the community.
    Video Content: Create tutorials, product demos, or how-to videos on platforms like YouTube.
    Online Forums: Support the community by answering questions on VMTN and VMware-related Reddit threads.
    VMUG Leadership Support: Assist your local VMUG chapter’s leadership for award consideration.
  • Auto-Approve Categories
    Book Authors: Published book authors and co-authors from the previous year are auto-approved but must still apply.
    VCDX Certification: VCDX certification holders are auto-approved but must still apply.
    VMUG Leadership: Active VMUG leaders are auto-approved but must still apply.

Why Choose VMUG Advantage or vExpert?

With VMUG Advantage, you get a strong return on your investment. The combination of VCF licenses, exam preparation, exam discounts, VMware Explore Discounts, and community access can help elevate your career and keep you at the forefront of VMware innovations. Plus, with vExpert status, you’ll join a network of like-minded professionals who are passionate about sharing knowledge and pushing the boundaries of VMware technology.

So, if you’re looking for a way to stay ahead in your VMware journey, consider investing in VMUG Advantage. It’s an affordable way to gain access to valuable resources, licenses, and community connections that can benefit your professional growth.

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VMware Cloud Foundation

VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2.1 – Upgrade Process & Troubleshooting Tips

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 6 minutes read

VMware has released a new version of its flagship product, VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF), with version 5.2.1. This upgrade brings exciting new features and enhancements to the table, offering improved functionality and performance for VMware users. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the key features of VCF 5.2.1 and provide some quick tips and tricks to get your upgrade process started.

What’s New

The VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 5.2.1 release includes the following:
  • Manage all SDDC certificates and passwords from a single UI: SDDC Manager certificate and password management functionality is now integrated in the vSphere Client to simplify and speed-up day-to-day operations. VCF users can now manage the certificates, integrated certificate authorities, and system user passwords from the Administration section in the vSphere Client. 
  • Reduced Downtime Upgrade (RDU) support for vCenter: VCF users can now leverage vCenter Reduced Downtime Upgrade (RDU) to execute a vCenter upgrade. vCenter RDU is a migration-based approach to upgrading vCenter and reduces the vCenter downtime to less than 5 minutes. 
  • NSX in-place upgrades for clusters that use vSphere Lifecycle Manager baselines: VCF users now have the choice to perform NSX in-place upgrade for clusters that use vSphere Lifecycle Manager baselines. In-place upgrades eliminate the need to place hosts into maintenance mode during the upgrade.
  • Support for vSphere Lifecycle Manager baseline and vSphere Lifecycle Manager image-based clusters in same workload domain: VCF users now have the flexibility to deploy and upgrade vLCM baseline and vLCM image-based clusters within the same workload domain. 
  • Support for the “License Now” option for vSAN add-on licenses based on capacity per tebibyte (TiB): VCF users can now apply the vSAN TiB capacity license within the SDDC Manager UI to expand storage capacity for their workload domains and clusters. You can also use the “License Later” option to assign the per-TiB vSAN license key using the vSphere Client.
  • Set up VMware Private AI Foundation infrastructure from the vSphere Client: VCF users can leverage a new guided workflow in the vSphere Client to set up infrastructure for VMware Private AI Foundation and maximize the potential of NVIDIA GPU-enabled ESXi hosts. The workflow streamlines the set up process by centralizing configuration steps from SDDC Manager and vCenter into a single workflow.

Read More at VMware’s site – VCF 5.2.1

Upgrade Process & Troubleshooting Tips

To disable the upgrade compatibility checks, follow the steps below:

  1. SSH into SDDC Manager appliance with the vcf user and su to root.
  2. Edit the file: /opt/vmware/vcf/lcm/lcm-app/conf/compatibility.flag
  3. Update the property vcf.compatibility.controllers.compatibilityCheckEnabled to false
  4. Save and close the file.
  5. Restart Lifecycle Management by running the command: systemctl restart lcm
Edit the file: /opt/vmware/vcf/lcm/lcm-app/conf/compatibility.flag (Example Below)

After you have updated the flag to false from true, reboot LCM service.

systemctl restart lcm

Once you have executed the syntax above, go back to SDDC Web UI and refresh the page, you should see “Update Now” enabled an no more errors.

I ran a pre-check, its a preferred practice to verify pre-checks of any upgrade of VCF, to ensure that everything will upgrade smoothly.

Pre-check is success with no errors or warnings! Lets Upgrade!

Update Now – will start the SDDC Upgrade to the latest version: Example below

Now that SDDC Manager has upgraded successfully, – Elapsed Time : 19 minutes 28 second

Now, for the next portion of the upgrade – I ended up having a issue where the SDDC BOM was erroring out, that I have a compatibility issue, this is due to a previous async patch upgrade that was required to fix CVE’s so what you will need to do is go back to the same configuration file and switch it back to false, and reboot lcm service. The configurations file reverts back to true after the SDDC upgrade.

Error Message:

You cannot select this target version for the following reasons. Select a different target version to proceed.

Cannot upgrade to VCF version 5.2.1.0 for domain ab8cae17-5034-4e2a-a3b1-ae283608d9ed in a compatible way: not upgradable: VCENTER 8.0.3.00200-24262322 -> VCENTER 8.0.3.00300-24305161, NSX_T_MANAGER 4.2.0.2.0-24278654 -> NSX_T_MANAGER 4.2.1.0.0-24304122; not interopable: VCENTER 8.0.3.00300-24305161 -> SDDC_MANAGER 5.2.1.0-24307856, VCENTER 8.0.3.00300-24305161 -> ESX_HOST 8.0.3-24280767, VCENTER 8.0.3.00300-24305161 -> NSX_T_MANAGER 4.2.0.2.0-24278654, NSX_T_MANAGER 4.2.1.0.0-24304122 -> VCENTER 8.0.3.00200-24262322, NSX_T_MANAGER 4.2.1.0.0-24304122 -> ESX_HOST 8.0.3-24280767, NSX_T_MANAGER 4.2.1.0.0-24304122 -> SDDC_MANAGER 5.2.1.0-24307856

Now after you have updated the configuration and restarted LCM service, go back to the SDDC UI and you should see it allow you to proceed with upgrade.

Now once the upgrade is staged and ready you can execute the NSX upgrade, which is the first part of the upgrade. Lets start!

NSX Precheck –

Selection if you would like to upgrade only NSX edge clusters, for my deployment I upgrade all of NSX.

Cluster Selection –

Upgrade options –

Preferred practice – to run the pre-check of any upgrade to ensure compatibility and prevent upgrade issues.

Lets Upgrade!

After NSX has upgraded, you will be able to proceed to vCenter Server upgrade process. If you want to watch the detailed upgrade of NSX you will need to login to the NSX manager web UI and go to System -> Upgrade (here you will be able to watch what is happening during the upgrade of NSX)

Finally to the exciting portion of the upgrade, the Reduced Downtime Upgrade (RDU) is outstanding and flawless and smooth process. Lets begin!

Ensure you have backups and everything you will need incase of any emergency that you need to roll back if the upgrade has an issue.

Here we will setup a temporary static IP, if you have a DHCP that works also.

At this part of the the upgrade, the scheduler we can tell the vCenter to do a immediate or scheduled switch over of the new vCenter that has been built / upgraded.

Verify everything you configured is correct to your needs before hitting Finish!

Now we watch the upgrade!

Elapsed Time : 35 minutes 39 seconds

That is all! We have upgraded VCF 5.2 to 5.2.1 and this process was super smooth and ran into few snags which we talked about here in this blog post from the async patch throwing off the BOM and then repeating the steps for SDDC Upgrade and also vCenter / NSX upgrade. Stay tuned for more VCF 5.2.1 posts!

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Cloud

VMware Cloud Director – Failed to Start

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 3 minutes read

Welcome, tech enthusiasts, to another thrilling dive into the depths of VMware’s cloud management platform, Cloud Director. Today, we find ourselves confronted by an issue that has left many a cloud administrator scratching their heads: the mysterious failure of Cloud Director to initiate its services due to a missing public address in the AllowedOrigins configuration. This blog is your lifeline, offering a comprehensive roadmap to navigate through this technical maze and restore the harmony of your Cloud Director environment!

“Failed to Start: An error occurred during the initialization” error when trying to access vCloud Director after updating public addresses

Additional Informatoin avaiabled from VMware’s Support Site – Failed to Start: An error occurred during the initialization

Procedure:

  • Take a Powered off snapshot of your VMware Cloud Director Cells, (ensure to turn them off properly).
  • Power on the VCD Appliances

Login into VCD Administration Provider Portal

Go to Swagger API

Expand the GET /1.0.0/site/settings/cors

Click ” Try it out “

When you hit ” Execute” Below as in the screenshot provided you should see a similar output. Once you see your output, and you see missing entries for any additional VCD Cells, you will need to input them into the following order as provided.

Once you have staged and prepared your JSON for the AllowedOrigins, using Notepad ++ or VS Code then you will go to the PUT section of Swagger API Explorer as in screenshot below.

An Example of JSON: As provided ensure to replicate the missing FQDN or IP for each section as the sample JSON below.
{
  "resultTotal": 18,
  "pageCount": 1,
  "page": 1,
  "pageSize": 25,
  "associations": null,
  "values": [
    {
      "origin": "172.31.181.200"
    },
    {
      "origin": "172.31.200.10"
    },
    {
      "origin": "172.31.200.11"
    },
    {
      "origin": "IP ADDRESS For Missing Node"
    },
    {
      "origin": "cloud.virtualbytes.io"
    },
    {
      "origin": "cloud01.virtualbytes.io"
    },
    {
      "origin": "cloud02.virtualbytes.io"
    },
    {
      "origin": "FQDN for Missing Node"
    },
    {
      "origin": "http://172.31.181.200"
    },
    {
      "origin": "http://172.31.200.10"
    },
    {
      "origin": "http://172.31.200.11"
    },
    {
      "origin": "IP ADDRESS For Missing Node"
    },
    {
      "origin": "http://cloud.virtualbytes.io"
    },
    {
      "origin": "http://cloud01.virtualbytes.io"
    },
    {
      "origin": "http://cloud02.virtualbytes.io"
    },
    {
      "origin": "FQDN for Missing Node"
    },
    {
      "origin": "https://172.31.181.200"
    },
    {
      "origin": "https://172.31.200.10"
    },
    {
      "origin": "https://172.31.200.11"
    },
    {
      "origin": "FQDN for Missing Node"
    },
    {
      "origin": "https://cloud.virtualbytes.io"
    },
    {
      "origin": "https://cloud01.virtualbytes.io"
    },
    {
      "origin": "https://cloud02.virtualbytes.io"
    },
    {
      "origin": "FQDN for Missing Node"
    }
  ]
}

After your JSON is ready, you will want to paste it into the white body of the PUT request and hit execute.

Toward the bottom of the CORS PUT Section you should see a 200 OK Status, after you see that you should see VCD cells that were missing start up and also if you re-run the GET command you should see your missing nodes.

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EventsVMware Cloud Foundation

VMware Explore 2024 – General Session – Shaping The Future Of Cloud And AI Innovation

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 3 minutes read

Las Vegas, the city that never sleeps, is about to shine even brighter as we step into a new era of technology. VMware Explore 2024 has arrived, and with it, a gathering of some of the most brilliant minds from around the globe, ready to shape the future of infrastructure and innovation.

At VMware Explore 2024, the company’s CEO, Hock Tan, took the stage to present a vision for the future of the company and reassure customers about its commitment to innovation and their success. In this blog post, we’ll recap Tan’s key messages from the general session and explore how VMware is positioning itself for the future while maintaining a strong focus on its customers’ needs. Along with announcing the large community that backs VMware – VMUG and VMware vExperts.

Hock Tan said that the CEOs’ decisions to push their companies into public clouds have left their IT departments with post-traumatic stress disorder, while silos of datacenter tech have left tech teams “screwed”. Which is 100% true, organizations are not ready for the cloud and the insane costs, cloud should be utilized to provide on-demand resources when an organization requires them.

The Future of VMware:
Tan began by highlighting VMware’s rich history and its role in revolutionizing virtualization and cloud computing. He acknowledged the company’s impressive track record of innovation, including recent innovations like VCF 9 and many other updates within Private AI and business operations, which have expanded VMware’s capabilities in areas like cloud management and multi-cloud.

He then set the tone for the rest of his presentation by emphasizing that while VMware has come a long way, there is still much to be done. Hock Tan said, “We’re just getting started,” hinting at a bold and ambitious future ahead for the company. He went on to describe VMware’s strategy as one that focuses on three key pillars: cloud, modern applications, and digital infrastructure.

Cloud and Virtualization:
Tan discussed how VMware has been at the forefront of cloud computing since its early days with virtualization. He highlighted the ongoing evolution of cloud technologies and how VMware is adapting to meet the changing needs of businesses. This includes investing in hybrid cloud solutions and expanding its presence in public, private, and edge clouds. Tan also mentioned VMware’s commitment to open standards and interoperability, ensuring that their products can seamlessly integrate with various cloud environments.


In his presentation at VMware Explore 2024, Hock Tan offered a compelling vision for the future of VMware, highlighting its commitment to innovation and customer success. By focusing on cloud, modern applications, and digital infrastructure, VMware is positioning itself to meet the evolving needs of businesses. Tan’s reassurance to customers that Broadcom wants to help and continue investing in their success are likely to alleviate any concerns about the company’s future direction. As VMware continues to execute on its strategy, it will be fascinating to see how the company evolves and adapts to the ever-changing landscape of technology.

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VMware Cloud Foundation

VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2!

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 5 minutes read

The ever-evolving landscape of cloud infrastructure demands constant innovation and adaptability from technology solutions. VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 5.2 arrives with a plethora of groundbreaking features and add-ons, empowering you to build, deploy, and manage modern infrastructure with unmatched efficiency and agility.

This release is a significant milestone in the journey of VCF, introducing cutting-edge advancements across AI-powered automation, data processing, and storage management. From intelligent workload placement to dynamic performance optimization and automated data handling, VCF 5.2 empowers you to:

  • Maximize resource utilization: Leverage AI-powered insights to allocate workloads optimally across the cluster, ensuring efficient resource allocation and improved performance.
  • Boost data agility: Embrace intelligent data management with automated data processing units (DPUs), enabling high-performance data analytics and persistent data storage.
  • Simplify storage management: Introduce new vSAN Extended Storage Architecture (ESA) policies for automated data tiering and disaster recovery, ensuring optimal storage utilization and enhanced resilience.
  • And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
VCF 5.2 comes packed with numerous other exciting features and enhancements, including:
  • Enhanced networking capabilities: Improved routing performance and stability with support for BGP routing in private networks.
  • Expanded automation: Streamline workflows with additional self-service capabilities for users and automated infrastructure provisioning.
  • Improved security: Strengthen data protection with advanced encryption options and role-based access controls. Utilizing Identity Federation Support with Microsoft Entra ID and also 3rd party authentication services or well known AD/LDAP or okta and ADFS.
  • Import an existing vSphere Infrastructure into your VMware Cloud Foundation infrastructure.

Here in this blog post we will go over many different topics but we will go in depth in future blog posts on other areas of VCF 5.2!

With the new VCF 5.2 you can import a standalone vSphere environment which it can be a new or existing one and let you manage its lifecycle through one single pane window through the SDDC Manager.

Flexible Deployments

Now you can deploy VCF in many different use cases, from a data center in the edge or even a air-gapped environment. Now in VCF 5.2 you have the flexibility to deploy as your heart desires!

Lifecycle Management

Now this is an exciting addition to VCF 5.2! We can upgrade SDDC Manager independently where before it was apart of the management workload domain, this provides a lot of flexibility where before some customers needed to stay on a specific version before it could get upgraded, it had to go through thorough tests.

Software Bill of Materials

Patch Individual Components using SDDC Manager

I made a great blog post on how to utilize the SDDC Manager Async Patch tool, well before it was a CLI driven automation utility where you would have to stage your commands and prepare for upgrading the indiviual products outside the Software Bill of Materials

The VMware SDDC Manager async patch tool allows you to upgrade individual products outside of the standard VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) baseline. This tool can be used to upgrade products such as vCenter, NSX, and ESXi to newer versions without affecting the overall VCF deployment.

From My Blog Post Here

Offline Bundle Repo

Now, this is a improvement for Air-Gapped environments or secured environments where there is no internet connection, with hosting your own repo for all the upgrades for VCF this will be a game-changer where it will save time and re-downloading each bundle or all the bundles.

vSphere 8 u3 Update

Key highlights of this release include:

  • Ability to manage Kubernetes clusters independent of vSphere, offering greater flexibility and autonomy for hybrid and multi-cloud deployments.
  • Simplified management of TKG clusters through the vSphere web client, streamlining workflows and reducing administrative overhead.
  • Automated scaling of virtual machines (VMs) based on workload demands, ensuring optimal resource utilization and cost efficiency.
  • Support for scale-up and scale-down of CPU, memory, and vCPUs simultaneously, enabling efficient adaptation to dynamic workloads.

vSAN Stretched Cluster Support:

  • Expansion of vSAN to support stretched clusters across geographically dispersed locations.
  • Continuous data consistency and disaster recovery across sites, ensuring high availability and business continuity.
  • VM Backup and Restore:
  • Comprehensive snapshot-based backup of TKGs, enabling easy restoration and disaster recovery.

Keeping your vSphere Updated

This ensures the following:

  • Optimal infrastructure performance and efficiency.
  • Enhanced security and compliance.
  • Improved management and automation capabilities.
  • Support for modern workloads.
  • Access to continuous innovation and support.

But also, now we can patch vSphere environment much faster and without taking too many services down and causing unhappy customers. So, now with the new upgrade process the host enters a partial maintained mode where the host has existing workloads operating on it but no new workloads will migrate nor any new VMs or containers will get deployed on it till it gets upgraded.

Hardware Support

Protecting crucial workloads utilizing DPUs, (Data Processing Units) this provides high availability with active and standby states for workloads where if there is any outage that could occur the operations switch over to the standby DPU. Which this is a really neat addon for mission critical workloads that rely on DPUs!

Also even taking off the load from the primary DPU and being able to provide additional bandwidth by utilizing DPUs to provide double the networking throughput and keeping workloads always on.

Also, with Intel’s AI/ML Workloads, the Intel CPU Max Series is an whole new type of CPU where they have high bandwidth memory on the chip to accelerate AI/ML workloads by ensuring advanced security and reducing bottlenecks during high demands.

vSphere with Different Types of GPU Workloads

Now with this release, customers have the opportunity now to use different types of workloads on a single GPU, where it could be Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning or even like utilizing graphics or VDI. This will help the GPU resources be shared among different deployments as well allowing customers to have the flexibility as they choose.

Security & Compliance

  • More Choices in Identity Management

TLS Ciphers allowing quicker implementation

STIG and PCI Compliance with easy to use hardening guides

VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2 is a groundbreaking advancement in your own private or hybrid cloud infrastructure management, offering a comprehensive suite of features and enhancements to empower you to build, deploy, and manage modern infrastructure with unparalleled efficiency and agility.

With intelligent automation, enhanced security, and innovative storage capabilities, VCF 5.2 provides a foundation for building resilient, adaptable, and efficient cloud-native environments.

Stay tuned for further blog posts where we’ll delve deeper into each of these features and explore how they can transform your infrastructure management practices!

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Events

Exciting New Sessions at VMware Explore 2024!

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 4 minutes read

The VMware Explore 2024 content library is now live! Get ready for a week of insightful sessions, thought-provoking discussions, and innovative showcases from industry leaders and VMware experts. 💡

Beyond the insightful keynotes and thought-provoking discussions, VMware Explore 2024 offers an unparalleled opportunity to get your hands dirty with the latest technologies and deepen your knowledge in various domains.

Here’s what awaits you in the hands-on labs:

  • Practical workshops: Master new skills in areas like Kubernetes, security, networking, and more.
  • Solution-focused labs: Solve real-world challenges with hands-on guidance from VMware experts.
  • Dedicated lab environments: Ensure a focused and productive learning experience with curated lab settings.

Make sure to stop by the Hands On Labs during a break or downtime where you can test, learn and enjoy tinkering with HOL Environments that are provided to you during the event!

General sessions will cover a diverse range of topics:

  • Industry trends: Explore the future of technology across sectors like healthcare, finance, and sustainability.
  • Product updates: Get the latest news and insights on new products. Many exciting new advancements in private cloud, AI, app delivery and the edge.
  • Customer success stories: Learn how organizations are leveraging VMware solutions to achieve business outcomes.

Keynotes will inspire and challenge you:

  • Visionary leaders: Gain valuable perspectives from industry leaders who will share their insights on the most pressing challenges and opportunities in technology.
  • Inspiring talks: Prepare to be captivated by thought-provoking discussions covering a wide range of topics, from digital transformation to sustainability.

Session Recommendations!

Link to Session Accelerate Your Journey To Private Cloud With VMware Cloud Foundation [VCFP1362LV]

In this breakout session, William Lam and Karia Parb will talk about an exiting journey to being utilizing and modernizing your data center environments using VMware Cloud Foundation. How VCF can improve your business operations and systems! I have attended previous sessions by William Lam and they were outstanding!

Link to Session 4 Ways to Enhance the Network Experience Across Hybrid and Multi-Cloud [AODB1894LV]

This session will go into deep dive on how to enhance your Networking experience using VCF and NSX, and being able to migrate workloads from hybrid cloud to on prem, this is a great sessions for many organizations to attend due to the complexities that are involved with the unknowns of the Internet, where how things need to be configured properly to seamlessly scale and migrate workloads between the on-prem datacenter and hybrid cloud. So make sure to book this session!

Link to Session Shaping the Future of Cloud and AI Innovation [GEN2495LV]

Are you ready to shape your future of Cloud and Artificial Intelligence? Well this session is going to be a kick! With all the new advancements from Private AI on VCF and how organizations can improve and scale and operate their enterprise workloads by implementing and designing a solid VMware Cloud Foundation environment, this general session will be an awesome outlook on how AI, applications and data center computing will help the industry!

Link to Session AI Without GPUs: Using Your Existing CPU Resources To Run AI Workloads [INVB2189LV]

This is a session I want to attend my self, even for my home lab where I have a large environment to do lots of CPU workloads but when it comes to having GPUs they get very costly, so being able to run AI/ML workloads on CPU resources will be a game changer for many organizations as well, due to cost savings and also ease of use whereas GPUs require more infrastructure and also the cooling. This will be a popular session I can already see it filling up!

Don’t miss the chance to:

  • Network with fellow attendees and industry professionals.
  • Discover new ideas and innovations.
  • Gain practical skills and knowledge to enhance your career.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • Register for sessions soon: Secure your spot for the sessions you’re most interested in and receive notifications when they go live.
  • Bookmark your sessions using the “♡” Icon so when the catalog opens for session registration then you will be notified.

Don’t forget to:

  • Follow VMware Explore on social media for updates, highlights, and exclusive content. ✨
  • Join the #VMwareExplore hashtag conversation to connect with other attendees and share your thoughts. 💬
  • Ready to explore the future of technology? Head over to the VMware Explore 2024 content library and start planning your viewing experience!
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AIVMware Cloud Foundation

How To Setup Ollama + OpenWebUI on VCF

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 4 minutes read

In this blog post, we will explore how to host your very own ChatGPT using the powerful combination of Ollama and OpenWebUI, all powered by VMware Cloud Foundation. By leveraging these cutting-edge technologies, you’ll be able to create a seamless and interactive chatbot experience that will impress your users. Get ready to dive into the world of AI and virtualization as we walk you through the steps to set up your own ChatGPT. Exciting times are ahead, so let’s get started on this journey together!

This walkthrough will only guide you through how to setup Ollama and Open WebUI – you will need to provide your own Linux VM, for my deployment I used Ubuntu 22.04.

Next blog post we will go into customizing and adding onto Ollama and OpenWebUI with for example Automatic1111 and Diffusion and Image Generation LLMs.

The Hardware:

  • 2 x Intel Platinum 8158 3.0GHz 12 Cores
  • 1 x Nvidia Tesla P40 24GB DDR5
  • 1 x Dell PERC H740P RAID Card
  • 4 x 32GB Samsung DDR4 2666MHz (128GB)
  • 2 x 50Gb/s Mellanox Connectx-4 Data Traffic
  • 4 x 10Gb/s X710 NDC for NSX Overlay
  • 1 x Boss S1 w/ M.2 SSD for ESXi Boot
  • 2 x 2000 watt PSUs
  • 8 x 800GB SAS SSD – Capacity Storage
  • 2 x 280GB Intel Optane Storage – Fast Storage

The Virtual Machine:

  • Deploy a Ubuntu or any choice of Debian distro if you want to utilize the commands I have apart of this walkthrough.
  • Enabling Hardware Device Passthrough for the GPU also apart of your VMX add the following in:
pciPassthru.use64bitMMIO=”TRUE”
pciPassthru.64bitMMIOSizeGB=”128″

Once the Virtual Machine is deployed, you will want to ensure that your Server or Desktop Hardware is prepared to have a GPU, in my Dell PowerEdge R740XD I have a NVIDIA Tesla P40.

The Specifications:

This will vary, for my initial deployment I setup 8 vCPUs with the Automatic CPU Topology enabled, but this will all depend on your use case, since I have powerful CPUs and lots of memory I can increase the resource allocation later on.

The Software:

Download & Install Ollama:

curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh

Time to Shutdown The Virtual Machine and Pass Through the NVIDIA Tesla P40

  • With the above requirements satisfied, two entries must be added to the VM’s VMX file, either by modifying the file directly or by using the vSphere client to add these capabilities. The first entry is:
pciPassthru.use64bitMMIO=”TRUE”
  • Specifying the second entry requires a simple calculation. Sum the GPU memory sizes of all GPU devices(*) you intend to pass into the VM and then round up to the next power of two. For example, to use passthrough with 4 16 GB A2 devices, the value would be: 32 + 32 = 64, rounded up to the next power of two to yield 128. Use this value in the second entry:
pciPassthru.64bitMMIOSizeGB=”128″

Add Docker’s official GPG key:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ca-certificates curl
sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings
sudo curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc
sudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc

Add the repository to Apt sources:

echo \
"deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu \
$(. /etc/os-release && echo "$VERSION_CODENAME") stable" | \
sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null
sudo apt-get update

Next, we will install docker and all its dependencies:

sudo apt-get install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin

Now we will setup the docker container for Open WebUI to run, on port 11434 – Yeah the port number looks like (LLAMA haha) 

docker run -d --network=host -v open-webui:/app/backend/data -e OLLAMA_BASE_URL=http://127.0.0.1:11434 --name open-webui --restart always ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:main

After you run the command above, then your webserver should start running – Open up your browser and login! You will be directed to setup a username / email. Once that is done, have fun and enjoy your own private AI!

Now, you will be presented the dashboard for your very own ChatGPT Privately Hosted!

Enjoy! 🙂

Depending on what LLMs you want to pull here is a example of how to do it via CLI

ollama pull aya

There we pulled aya LLM!

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Events

VMware Explore 2024

by Tommy Grot
written by Tommy Grot 4 minutes read

VMware Explore Las Vegas 2024

Get ready to experience the ultimate tech extravaganza at VMware Explore 2024 in Las Vegas! August 26th – 29th. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever as we dive into the world of multi cloud computing, virtualization, containerization and many more technologies. Join us as we embark on a journey through the latest innovations in technology and network with industry experts and like-minded individuals. Get ready to expand your knowledge, cultivate new ideas, and collaborate with friends old and new. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just beginning your tech journey, VMware Explore 2024 is the place to be. So mark your calendars, pack your bags, and get ready for an unforgettable experience in the heart of Sin City. Let’s explore the future together!

Early-Bird Registration Is Open

Below are few links – VMware Explore Registration, also go and follow VMware Explore LinkedIn Channel

What Am I Looking Forward to VMware Explore 2024 –

This event promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience, featuring insightful keynotes, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities with industry experts. As well getting the chance expand on my knowledge from others within the community, as well as meeting creators of many products, last year I got to meet with Stephen Evanchik – VMware Cloud Director creator, as well as the VMware Cloud Team, I enjoyed showcasing my work project and skills I have acquired and collaborated with others.

VMware Explore 2023 Recap –

More Info About My VMware Explore 2023 – Here

VMware Explore 2023 was an absolute blast, I got invited to the Presidents Dinner and got to meet the CEO Raghu and explore and find friends and colleges. Even spending time with the VMware Education Team was a blast!

How VMware Explore Has Benefited My Career?

  • VMware Explore has been instrumental in advancing my career by providing me with the knowledge needed to excel in the field of virtualization.

  • The hands-on labs offered by VMware Explore have allowed me to gain practical experience and a deeper understanding of VMware products.

  • Additionally, earning a VMware certification through Explore has not only validated my skills but has also opened up new opportunities for career advancement.

  • Networking with professionals in the industry through VMware Explore has been invaluable in building connections and receiving mentorship from experts in the field.

  • VMware Explore has been a crucial stepping stone in my career development, equipping me with the tools and resources necessary to thrive in the ever-evolving world of virtualization technology.

Top Reasons to Attend VMware Explore 2024
  • Uncomplicate your cloud – Leverage a large ecosystem that is powered by the community and partners to accelerate you VMware Cloud journey.
  • Learn directly from the source – Meet the Creators of certain VMware Products, ask questions to the Expert Bar, where they can help you with all your IT needs and support.
  • Accelerate your next move – Check out the VMware Education Exam Center, get certified with discounts on many VMware Exams.
  • Meet friends and influence people – Hang out with other colleges, experts and even many certifieds VMware experts, gain knowledge and experience from other team members and share stories!

VMware Explore Benefits

(All Images are from VMware Explore 2023 Las Vegas!)

The Hub

The Hub welcomes all attendees to relax, recharge, network and learn. Lots of awesome booths to check out along with the vExpert Communities, and VMware Rewards and VMware CODE! Make sure to make a stop at the vExpert Booth and Learn what it takes and how to become a vExpert and join the awesome VMware vExpert Family!

Certification Exams

This is an awesome offer to not take advantage of! because your full event pass registration allows you to purchase VMware Certified Professional (VCP) and VMware Certified Advanced Professional (VCAP) certification exam vouchers at a 50 percent discount (exams must be taken onsite during Explore Las Vegas).

Hands-on Labs

The Hands-on Labs Command Center – This is a really neat tool that has been developed for HOL utilizing VMware Aria Operations. This allows everyone to see how important health and monitoring of any environment is critical to ensure a optimized and smooth HOL Experience. Also there are expert-led workshops, interactive labs, and production-quality VMware Test-drive demos, you’ll get hands-on experience with the full VMware by Broadcom portfolio of products. Subject matter experts will be available to answer questions and deep dive into innovative solutions.

The Expo

Visit The Expo to explore the latest products and solutions from sponsors and exhibitors. While there, be sure to head to the VMware by Broadcom booth where you can learn more about the latest offerings, attend our in-booth theater presentations, and get your questions answered by product specialists.

VMware Explore YouTube Channel
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