VMware HCI
VMware HCI manages
the configuration of hyper-converged compute, storage, and network resources
for a cluster, as a collection of identically configured ESXi hosts. This
unified approach simplifies cluster configuration, offering a way to configure
all resource types as a group, using a single interface.
VMware HCI clusters are ideal
for newly established datacenters. Only conformant hosts are allowed to be a
part of the HCI cluster. They must have the same CPU design and contain the
minimum number of physical NICs specified in
DvsProfile
. Network
settings are wiped to a clean state before configuration. Non-management port
groups in standard switches are migrated to a virtual distributed switch.
The
ConfigureHCI_Task
method configures a VMware HCI (hyper converged infrastructure) cluster. The
ExtendHCI_Task
method
expands and reconfigures a VMware HCI cluster. Before and after HCI cluster
configuration, you can run the
ValidateHCIConfiguration
method to check that the
ClusterComputeResourceHCIConfigSpec
is correct.
The
BatchAddHostsToCluster_Task
method adds more hosts as needed to a VMware HCI cluster, but cannot change
cluster configuration.
These configure, extend, and
host add methods are composite tasks. That is, they perform multiple operations
in a single task. For example,
ConfigureHCI_Task
can:
- Set up cluster services such as DRS, HA, and vMotion
- For an HCI cluster, verify that all hosts have same CPU vendor
- Add new standalone hosts and set state (lockdown)
- Move all hosts into the HCI cluster
- Configure vSAN datastore
- Configure virtual distributed switch and port groups
Automatic remediation of failed
hosts is not attempted. The administrator must intervene to correct issues
before attempting to place hosts back in the cluster. Remediated hosts must be
ready to participate in the vSAN datastore.