Deploying a vSAN cluster with the VX Deployer

The ThinkAgile VX Deployer is a GUI-based wizard that guides you through the deployment of ThinkAgile VX systems within vSAN clusters. It installs ESXi on one or more target hosts and deploys the hosts to a vSAN cluster.

The VX Deployer installs and configures the following software:

• VMware ESXi. Installed on each of the hosts in the vSAN cluster.

  Release 2.1.0 of the VX Deployer supports the installation and setup of one of the following versions:

  • VMware ESXi 7.0 Update 3k, build 21313628

  • VMware ESXi 8.0 Update 1, build 21495797

• VMware vCenter. Manages the vSAN cluster.

  Release 2.1.0 of the VX Deployer supports the installation and setup of one of the following versions:

  Note

  If you choose to install ESXi 7.0 on the hosts, you must choose to install vCenter Server 7.0 as well. You cannot mix ESXi 8.0 with vCenter 7.0.

  • VMware vCenter Server 7.0 Update 3k, build 21290409

  • VMware vCenter Server 8.0 Update 1, build 21560480

• Lenovo XClarity Integrator (LXCI). Used with VMware Lifecycle Manager (vLCM) to manage firmware and software updates for ThinkAgile VX systems.

  Release 2.1.0 of the VX Deployer installs and configures LXCI 8.1.0, build 681.

The ThinkAgile VX Deployer is pre-loaded on the following ThinkAgile VX systems.

• VX2320

• VX2330

• VX3320

• VX3330

• VX3520-G

• VX3530-G

• VX3575-G IS

• VX3720

• VX5520

• VX5530

• VX5575 IS

• VX7320-N

• VX7330-N

• VX7520

• VX7530

• VX7575 IS

• VX7820

• VX630 V3 IS

• VX650 V3 IS

• VX645 V3 IS

• VX665 V3 IS

Note

For assistance in the deployment of a vSAN cluster on these or other ThinkAgile VX systems, contact Lenovo Support.

Complete the following steps to deploy a ThinkAgile VX series vSAN cluster using the VX Deployer.

Task	Description	For more information
Prepare for the deployment	Review disk configuration considerations. Fill out the deployment worksheet. Install the hardware in a rack. Cable the network. Configure DNS entries for the cluster.	Preparing for the deployment
Deploy the cluster	To deploy a new cluster: Set up the VX Deployer. Run the VX Deployer to deploy the vSAN cluster. Validate the cluster deployment.	Deploying the vSAN cluster
	To add a node to an existing cluster: Run the VX Deployer to deploy the vSAN cluster.	Adding a node to an existing cluster
Update the vSAN cluster	Update LXCI. Update firmware, device drivers, and ESXi.	Updating a vSAN cluster Upgrading LXCI for VMware vCenter ThinkAgile VX Best Recipe Note On the Best Recipe page, click the appropriate Best Recipe release. Then, click Solution Stack Guidelines. From that page, click the Cluster remediation nodes using vLCM document for instructions about updating firmware, device drivers, and ESXi.

If you need to open a Support ticket with Lenovo, see Getting help.

• Known issues
  Review the known issues related to the ThinkAgile VX Deployer.
• Preparing for the deployment
  Prepare for the vSAN deployment by reviewing security considerations, disk considerations, filling in the deployment worksheet, installing the ThinkAgile VX appliances in a rack, cabling the appliances to the network, and adding entries to the DNS server.
• Deploying the vSAN cluster
  To deploy the vSAN cluster using the VX Deployer, set up the VX Deployer, and then run the VX Deployer. When the deployment is complete, validate that the deployment was successful.
• Adding a node to an existing cluster
  To add one or more nodes to an existing vSAN cluster using the VX Deployer, set up the VX Deployer, and then run the VX Deployer. When the deployment is complete, validate that the deployment was successful.
• Working with configuration files
  When you use the VX Deployer to create a new vSAN cluster or to add a node to an existing vSAN cluster, you have the option to save the configuration into a .JSON file. Then, you can use the configuration file to populate the VX Deployer for the next deployment.