VCF 9.0.1 Deployment: Part 6 – Getting Your Logs Up and Running!

Hey there, tech fans! Welcome back to our VCF 9.0.1 Deployment Series. Today, we’re tackling the essential part: deploying VCF Operations for Logs. This is how you get all your juicy log data flowing!

Ready to dive in? Let’s go!Step 1: Gear Up with Binaries and Depot Setup

Before we start the actual deployment, we need to make sure we have all the necessary files, which means setting up our depot.

1. Log in to VCF Operations and head over to Fleet Management -> Lifecycle -> VCF Management -> Depot Configuration.
2. You have two choices here:
   • Online Depot: Super easy if you have an internet connection.
   • Offline Depot: This is what I’m doing, using a web server.

3. For the web server setup, enter your URL, username, and password. Remember to click the + icon next to the password field to add it securely (you can’t type it directly). Accept the certificate, and click OK.

Step 2: Download the Goods

Once your depot is configured (woohoo!), it’s time to grab the software we need.

1. Navigate to Binary Management -> Install Binaries.
2. Find and download the operations-logs binaries.

Step 3: Adding the Component

Now for the main event—adding the Logs component itself!

1. Go to Components -> Add Component -> Operations-logs.

2. You’ll need to choose a few things:
   • Installation Type and Version
   • Deployment Type:
     • Cluster for high availability (requires three nodes)
     • Standard for a simple, single-node setup.

Step 4: Certificate Time!

Certificates are next on the list. For this initial deployment, I’m sticking with a self-signed cert.

1. Click the + icon and select Generate certificate. (If you have a CA-signed cert, you can choose to import it).

2. Fill in the details required to generate your certificate and click Generate.

3. Select your shiny new certificate (or the one you imported) and hit Next.

Step 5: The Infrastructure Deep Dive

This is where we connect everything to your existing environment.

1. Select your Management vCenter, cluster, the appropriate network (usually your VM management or fleet network), and the Datastore.

2. Next, configure the network details for the VLAN where the logs component will live: DNS, NTP, Gateway, and Network mask.

Step 6: Sizing, Affinity, and Passwords

Almost there! Let’s handle the final configuration settings.

1. Choose your node size (small, medium, or large) based on your environment’s needs.
2. Turn on FIPS if required.
3. If you’re deploying a cluster, set up an Affinity rule to keep the component VMs on separate hosts for resilience.
4. Crucially, click the Add Password button in the top right to create new passwords for both the admin and root accounts.

5. Enter an email for the admin account, select the newly created admin password for the component password, and specify your NTP server.

Step 7: Component Details

Time to give your new VMs their identity!

1. Enter the component details: VM name, FQDN, and IP address.
2. Click the settings icon on the right to configure advanced details like specifying the datastore for each VM and setting the root password.

Step 8: Final Checks and Launch!

You’ve done the hard work! Now let the system check everything.

1. Hit Run Precheck and wait for the system to confirm everything is good to go.

2. Validate the Summary page to make sure it all looks correct.
3. Click Submit!

And that’s it! You’ve successfully deployed VCF Operations for Logs. Happy logging!