How to Converge an existing VMware vSphere environment to VCF 9.0 step-by-step.

We will see below (step-by-step), how to Converge a vCenter Instance and ESX Hosts to vSphere Foundation Platform.
In our case the target VMware Cloud Foundation we converge on is 9.0.2 version.

To successfully converge your existing vCenter instance and ESX hosts, you must ensure that you comply with the prerequisites, follow the procedure, and perform the next steps.
Verify that your existing configuration is supported and you satisfy the minimum component versions. See Supported Configurations in Converging Existing Virtual Infrastructure to a VCF or a vSphere Foundation Platform.

Last but not least, check Supported Scenarios to Converge to VCF.

Before to begin, a quick tip to keep in mind:
The first step to implement VCF 9 is to deploy the 'VCF-SDDC-Manager-Appliance-9.0.2.0.25151285.ova' file, which serves as the installer, as shown here.
If the VMware Cloud Foundation installer appliance is deployed on one of the hosts in the management domain. During the deployment process, the installer appliance will be converted into the SDD Manager appliance; otherwise a new SDDC Manager appliance will be deployed within the vCenter being converged.
In the case illustrated below we deployed the VCF installer outside the vCenter to be converged.


Let's start:
Access the "VCF Installer" (how to download, deploy and configure VCF Installer available here) UI via browser (https://<appliance-ip>), and log in.

Check that the depot (in our case the online depot) is correctly configured, and binaries are successfully downloaded.

Expand "DEPLOYMENT WIZARD" and select "VMware Cloud Foundation" (1).

Select "Deploy a new VCF fleet" (2) > CONTINUE (3)
In our case, the vCenter that will be converged will also be the Management Domain's vCenter.

Select the existing components (in our case only vCenter)(4) and click "NEXT" (5).

Fill in the "General Information" (6), selecting the version, entering the new name of the VCF instance, the management domain, etc.
Select the "Deployment model" (in our case, since it's a LAB, I selected Standard (Single-node)). Then proceed by clicking "NEXT" (7).

Select the correct size of the "Operations Appliance", fill in the FQDN (8), passwords and enter the FQDNs for the "Fleet Management Appliance" (9) and for the "Operations Collector" (10) Appliance. Press NEXT (11).

In this case, since it is a LAB, I skip the installation of "Automation"(12) appliance and continue by pressing NEXT (13).

Indicate and enter the credentials of the existing vCenter that you want to convert (14).

Accept the certificates (16) and confirm (17).

Enter the required information to deploy the NSX appliance (18) (19) to the management domain and continue by pressing NEXT (20).

The VMware Cloud Foundation installation appliance is not deployed on one of the hosts in the management domain. A new SDDC Manager appliance will be deployed. Enter the required information (21).

Review, than perform the VALIDATIONS tests and ACKNOWLEDGE (23) the Warnings ...

... DEPLOY (24).

Wait until the VCF components are installed...

OPEN VCF OPERATIONS UI (25)

log in ...

... and check that everything is OK.

Login on the vCenter as well and check that everything is OK too.

Useful links:
How to Converge a VMware vSphere Environment to VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0

That's it.

[VCF 9.0.2] VMware Cloud Foundation Installer and Depot Configuration

🚀 Kickstarting VCF 9: From Download to Depot Configuration

Below is a quick how-to guide on some critical steps to get your VCF Installer appliance and the initial bootstrap process up and running quickly and easily (at Day 0).

The Workflow:

1. DOWNLOAD (The Broadcom Portal)

Since the transition, locating the binary is the first challenge.

• Log in to the Broadcom Support Portal.
  
  
• Navigate to "My Downloads" -> type "VMware Cloud Foundation"(1) into "Search Product Name" (1) and hit "Show Results" (2) botton. Click "VMware Cloud Foundation"(3)
  
  
• Click on "VMware Cloud Foundation 9" to expand and select the desired releases (in my case 9.0.2.0).
  
• Agree both "Terms and Conditions"(1) and "Compliance Reporting Terms and Conditions"(1) then flag the check box (2). Click on "View Group" in the row corresponding to "VMware Cloud Foundation Installer"
  
• Download the VCF Installer Appliance OVA "VCF-SDDC-Manager-Appliance-9.0.2.0.25151285.ova" (approx. 2.03GB) (1)
  

2. DEPLOY (The OVF Wizard)

Deploying the appliance is standard, but accuracy is key for the automation engine to work later (detailed steps on how to distribute an OVA are beyond the scope here).

• Open your existing vSphere Client.
• Right-click Cluster -> Deploy OVF Template.
• Upload the OVA.
• Crucial Inputs: Provide the Name of the VM, a strong password, valid DNS, NTP, a Static IP and so on.
  Result: Power on the appliance. Wait for the services to initialize (approx. 10-15 mins).

3. CONFIGURE DEPOT (Hydrating the BOM)

This is where VCF 9 shines with its decoupled architecture. Once the appliance is up, you need to populate it with the software Bill of Materials (BOM).

• Access the Appliance UI via browser (https://<appliance-ip>).
  Log in by entering the credentials provided during the previous deployment phase
  
• Click on "DEPOT SETTINGS AND BINARY MANAGEMENT".
  
• Choose one of the two DEPOT configuration options (Online - Offline).
  
  • Option A (Online): Enter your Broadcom Support credentials (Token). The appliance will sync the manifest and download the required bundles (ESXi, NSX, SDDC Manager services) automatically.
  • Option B (Offline): If you are in an air-gapped environment, use the Bundle Transfer Utility to upload the bundles manually.
  In our case we will connect to the online depot clicking on "CONFIGURE".
  
• Connecting to the online depot requires generating a Token which can be obtained from the Broadcom Support Portal. On how to generate the token, see KB 390098
  
  
• Insert the Token and click "AUTHENTICATE"
  
• If the token entered in the previous step is correct, onces choosen the desired version (in our case, 9.0.2.0) we can download the binaries of the components we need.
  
• Select the desired packages, click "DOWNLOAD" and wait for the download to complete.
  

We have everything we need and are ready to get started with VCF 9. We'll see how to proceed in the next posts.

That's it.