An administrator is creating a new workload domain from VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) Operations. They are blocked at the Hosts selection screen as…

Commissioning hosts is a Day-2 operational task performed within an existing VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) environment. This process adds prepared ESXi hosts to the VCF inventory, making them available for creating new VI workload domains or expanding existing ones. This action is executed through the SDDC Manager UI, which is the central management console for all VCF operations after the initial deployment (bring-up) is complete. The error message indicates the need for suitable hosts, and commissioning is the first VCF-specific step to make them available.

A. Using the Cloud Builder.

The Cloud Builder appliance is used exclusively for the initial deployment (bring-up) of the VCF management domain. It is not used for ongoing operational tasks.

B. Using the vSphere client.

The vSphere Client manages vCenter Server inventory but does not perform VCF-level operations like commissioning hosts into the SDDC Manager's inventory for workload domain creation.

C. Using the VCF Installer.

"VCF Installer" is not the correct term for a standard VCF component. The initial deployment is performed by the Cloud Builder, and subsequent operations are managed by SDDC Manager.

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1. VMware Cloud Foundation 5.1 Administration Guide, "Host Management" chapter, section "Commission Hosts".

Reference: The guide states, "You commission hosts to add them to the VMware Cloud Foundation inventory. You can then use these hosts to create new VI workload domains or add hosts to existing workload domains or clusters." The procedure explicitly details using the SDDC Manager Dashboard to perform this task.

2. VMware Cloud Foundation 5.1 Planning and Preparation Guide, "Deployment" chapter, section "VMware Cloud Foundation Bring-Up".

Reference: This document clarifies the role of the Cloud Builder: "You use the VMware Cloud Foundation Cloud Builder appliance to automate the deployment of the management domain." This confirms its purpose is limited to the initial setup, not ongoing host management.

3. VMware Cloud Foundation Architecture and Design Guide, "VMware Cloud Foundation Components" section.

Reference: This guide describes the SDDC Manager as the component that "automates the entire system life cycle (from initial bring-up, to configuration and provisioning, to upgrades and patching) and simplifies day-to-day management and operations." This supports SDDC Manager (used for VCF Operations) as the tool for commissioning hosts.