Create a VMware Engine private cloud

A private cloud is an isolated VMware stack that consists of ESXi hosts, vCenter, vSAN, NSX-T, and HCX. You manage private clouds through the Google Cloud VMware Engine portal. A private cloud has its own vCenter server in its own management domain. The stack runs on nodes that are isolated bare metal hardware nodes.

Creating a private cloud helps you address a variety of common needs for network infrastructure:

  • Growth. If you've reached a hardware refresh point for your existing infrastructure, a private cloud lets you expand with no new hardware investment.

  • Fast expansion. If any temporary or unplanned capacity needs arise, a private cloud lets you create the additional capacity immediately.

  • Increased protection. With a private cloud of three or more nodes, you get automatic redundancy and high availability protection.

  • Long-term infrastructure needs. If your data centers are at capacity or you want to restructure to lower your costs, a private cloud lets you retire data centers and migrate to a cloud-based solution while remaining compatible with your enterprise operations.

When you create a private cloud, you get a single vSphere cluster and all the management VMs that are created in that cluster.

Before you begin

Allocate a CIDR range for vSphere/vSAN subnets for the private cloud. A private cloud is an isolated VMware stack environment (with ESXi hosts, vCenter, vSAN, and NSX-T) managed by a vCenter server. Management components are deployed in the network that is selected for vSphere/vSAN subnets. The network CIDR range is divided into different subnets during the deployment. The vSphere/vSAN subnet address space must be unique. It must not overlap with any network that communicates with the VMware Engine environment. The networks that communicate with the private cloud include on-premises networks and Google Cloud VPCs. For more information about vSphere/vSAN subnets, see VLANs and subnets overview.

  • Minimum vSphere/vSAN subnets CIDR range prefix: /24

  • Maximum vSphere/vSAN subnets CIDR range prefix: /21

Create a private cloud

  1. Access the Google Cloud VMware Engine portal.
  2. On the Resources page, click Create private cloud.
  3. Select the number of nodes for the private cloud. At least three are required.
  4. Enter a CIDR range for the VMware management network. The CIDR range must not overlap with any of your on-premises or cloud subnets.
  5. Enter a CIDR range for the HCX deployment network, which is used for deploying HCX components. Make sure that the CIDR range doesn't overlap with any of your on-premises or cloud subnets. The CIDR range must be /28 or higher.
  6. Select Review and Create.
  7. Review the settings. To change any settings, click Back.
  8. Click Create.

Private cloud provisioning starts. Provisioning can take 30 minutes to 2 hours. After the provisioning is complete, you receive an email.

What's next