VMware Validated Solutions

VMware Validated Solutions – October 2023 Update

This month’s update was slightly delayed due to the availability of VMware Cloud Foundation 5.1.0, but the team has been busy behind the scenes preparing for the release. We are also excited to announce the release of Cloud-Based Ransomware Recovery for VMware Cloud Foundation validated solution.

Cloud-Based Ransomware Recovery for VMware Cloud Foundation

Delighted to announce the release of this brand-new VMware Validated Solution.

The Cloud-Based Ransomware Recovery for VMware Cloud Foundation is a well-architected validated solutions that provides detailed design, implementation, configuration, and operation guidance on protecting business workloads running on a VMware Cloud Foundation instance against a ransomware attack by connecting the instance to VMware Cloud on AWS through the use of the VMware Cloud Disaster Recovery service.

VMware vRealize Suite to VMware Aria Suite Rebrand

With the release of VMware Cloud Foundation 5.1.0, this release incorporates the VMware vRealize Suite to VMware Aria Suite rebranding and with that a rebrand across the following VMware Validated Solutions:

In addition, the rebranding work has been carried out across the Solution Interoperability sections of the following VMware Validated Solutions:

Added Support for VMware Cloud Foundation 5.1.0

Delighted to announce support for VMware Cloud Foundation 5.1.0 for the following VMware Validated Solutions:

Upgrade VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle to Version 8.14.0

Following the introduction of guidance to help greenfield customers upgrade VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle to a consistent release across multiple versions of VMware Cloud Foundation, this month’s enhancement provides guidance for upgrading to VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle v8.14.0 based on the initial deployment of:

  • VMware Cloud Foundation 4.5.2
  • VMware Cloud Foundation 5.0.0
  • VMware Cloud Foundation 5.1.0

Cloud-Based Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation

Implementation

Replaced the following procedure:

  • Configure Local Service Account Permissions for NSX Integration for Cloud-Based Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation

With this new procedure:

  • Prepare the NSX to VMware Aria Operations for Networks Integration for Cloud-Based Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation

Operational Guidance

Added the following procedures:

  • Replace the NSX Principal Identity Certificate for Cloud-Based Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation
  • Refresh the NSX to VMware Aria Operations for Networks Integration for Cloud-Based Network Visibility for VMware Cloud Foundation

Cloud-Based Intelligent Operations for VMware Cloud Foundation

Operational Guidance

Added the following procedures:

  • Replace the NSX Principal Identity Certificate for Cloud-Based Intelligent Operations for VMware Cloud Foundation
  • Refresh the NSX Credential in VMware Aria Operations for Cloud-Based Intelligent Operations for VMware Cloud Foundation

Cloud-Based Workload Protection for VMware Cloud Foundation

Provides guidance on the use of a vsphere.local domain user for establishing communication between VMware Cloud Disaster Recovery and vCenter Server.

Detailed Design

  • Service Account Design for Cloud-Based Workload Protection for VMware Cloud Foundation

Implementation

  • Create and Configure a Custom Role in vSphere for Cloud-Based Workload Protection for VMware Cloud Foundation

Intelligent Operations Management for VMware Cloud Foundation

Implementation

Additional PowerValidatedSolutions Automation:

  • Remove Existing vCenter Server Adapter in VMware Aria Operations for Intelligent Operations Management for VMware Cloud Foundation (Undo-vROPSAdapter and Undo-vROPSCredential)
  • Activate the VMware Cloud Foundation Integration for Intelligent Operations Management for VMware Cloud Foundation (Register-vROPSManagementPack)

Removed the following procedures as no longer require when use the VMware Aria Operations Cloud Proxies.

  • Import the New Certificate for VMware Aria Operations to vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager
  • Replace the SSL Certificate on VMware Aria Operations

Identity and Access Management for VMware Cloud Foundation

Detailed Design

  • Updates to NSX Password Management design decisions IAM-NSX-SEC-011, IAM-NSX-SEC-012 and IAM-NSX-SEC-013 to support the addition of the management of the audit user for VI Workload Domains.

Implementation

Operations

General Availability of PowerValidatedSolutions v2.7.0

A PowerShell module that has been written to support the automation of many procedures associated with the implementation of the VMware Validated Solutions for VMware Cloud Foundation.

The module helps reduce human error, delivers consistency and robustness, and accelerates the time-to-deploy these solutions. The module’s cmdlets reduce complexity by automating the deployment and configuration steps using the product APIs or command-line tools.

Release Highlights

  • Fixed a number of issues relating to Developer Ready Infrastructure cmdlets.
  • Added new cmdlets to support the creation of different credentials in VMware Aria Operations.
  • Added new cmdlets to support NSX APIs for LDAP Identity Providers and NSX Principal Identity management.
  • Updated cmdlet descriptions and examples for VMware Aria Suite, formerly known as vRealize Suite, products to use the new VMware Aria names.
  • Enhanced sample alerts and notification in SampleNotifications to reflect the new VMware Aria product names.
  • Enhanced cmdlets to support VMware Cloud Foundation v5.1.0 and VMware Aria Suite 8.14.0.

For a full list of changes see the GitHub Changelog.