VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) is VMware’s unified SDDC platform for the hybrid cloud and it’s based on VMware’s compute, storage, and network virtualization technologies to deliver a native integrated software stack that can be used on-premises for private cloud deployment or run as a service from the public cloud with consistent and simple operations.
The core components of VMware Cloud Foundation are VMware vSphere (for the compute part), vSAN (for the storage part), and NSX DataCenter (in version -v or -T, for the network and security part).
It’s more than a simple products bundle, because it gives a full validate stack with a fast provisioning, but also a better lifecycle management.
VMware Cloud Foundation comes also with VMware SDDC Manager that automates the entire system life cycle and simplifies software operations for the entire stack. SDDC Manager can automate the deployment, configuration, and ongoing lifecycle of a complete SDDC, including the complex tasks of update and upgrade.
And it’s not limited only to the main three product, but includes several other VMware’s products.
The Cloud Foundation 3.9 release continues to expand on the SDDC automation, VMware SDDC stack, and the partner ecosystem.
The new VMware Cloud Foundation 3.9 includes:
- Cluster-Level Upgrade Support: Provides an option to select individual clusters within a workload domain for ESXi upgrades.
- Multi-Instance Management: Allows you to monitor multiple Cloud Foundation instances from a single console.
- Fibre Channel Storage as Principal Storage: Virtual Infrastructure (VI) workload domains now support Fibre Channel as a principal storage option in addition to VMware vSAN and NFS.
- Support for Additional Composable Hardware: Server composability has been extended to include the ability to compose and decompose Dell MX servers, enabling Dell MX customers to compose servers as per workload needs.
- Improved NSX Data Protection: SDDC Manager can configure NSX Managers to back up on a SFTP server in a separate fault zone. It is recommended that you register a SFTP server with SDDC Manager after upgrade or bring-up.
- Developer Center (Beta feature): Enables you to access Cloud Foundation APIs and code samples from SDDC Manager Dashboard.
- Cloud Foundation APIs: API support has been extended. For more information, see VMware Cloud Foundation API Reference Guide.
- BOM Updates for the 3.9 Release: Updated Bill of Materials with new product versions.
For more information see the Release Notes.
The Cloud Foundation software product is comprised of the following software Bill-of-Materials (BOM). The components in the BOM are interoperable and compatible.
| Software Component | Version | Date | Build Number |
| Cloud Builder VM | 2.2.0.0 | 24 OCT 2019 | 14866160 |
| SDDC Manager | 3.9 | 24 OCT 2019 | 14866160 |
| VMware vCenter Server Appliance | vCenter Server 6.7 Update 3 | 20 AUG 2019 | 14367737 |
| VMware ESXi | ESXi 6.7 Update 3 | 20 AUG 2019 | 14320388 |
| VMware vSAN | 6.7 Update 3 | 20 AUG 2019 | 14263135 |
| VMware NSX Data Center for vSphere | 6.4.5 | 18 APR 2019 | 13282012 |
| VMware NSX-T Data Center | 2.5 | 19 SEP 2019 | 14663974 |
| VMware Enterprise PKS | 1.5 | 20 AUG 2019 | 14878150 |
| VMware vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager | 2.1 Patch 2 | 02 JUL 2019 | 14062628 |
| VMware vRealize Log Insight | 4.8 | 11 APR 2019 | 13036238 |
| vRealize Log Insight Content Pack for NSX for vSphere | 3.9 | n/a | n/a |
| vRealize Log Insight Content Pack for Linux | 1.0 | n/a | n/a |
| vRealize Log Insight Content Pack for vRealize Automation 7.3+ | 2.2 | n/a | n/a |
| vRealize Log Insight Content Pack for vRealize Orchestrator 7.0.1+ | 2.1 | n/a | n/a |
| vRealize Log insight Content Pack for NSX-T | 3.8 | n/a | n/a |
| vSAN Content Pack for Log Insight | 2.1 | n/a | n/a |
| vRealize Operations Manager | 7.5 | 11 APR 2019 | 13165949 |
| vRealize Automation | 7.6 | 11 APR 2019 | 13027280 |
| VMware Horizon 7 | 7.9.0 | 25 JUN 2019 | 13956742 |
For details on vSAN Ready Nodes in Cloud Foundation, see VMware Compatibility Guide (VCG) for vSAN and the Hardware Requirements section in the VMware Cloud Foundation Planning and Preparation Guide.
NOTE: VMware Cloud Foundation 3.9 must be installed as a new deployment or upgraded from VMware Cloud Foundation 3.8.1. For more information, see Installation and Upgrade Information below.
