How to Use VCF JSON Generator Utility 9 for Post-Bringup Operations

If you’re working with VMware Cloud Foundation 9 (VCF), the VCF JSON Generator Utility 9 is a powerful tool to generate JSON files for various deployment tasks. In this short tutorial, we’ll cover how to download, install, and use the utility, and generate a JSON for Post Bringup Operations.
In the world of VMware Cloud Foundation 9 (VCF), automation is the cornerstone of a stable environment. It is a common scenario to postpone the installation of operations and automation components (like VCF Operations or VCF Automation) during the initial Bring-up phase. If you find yourself in this position, there is no need for manual configuration. The VCF.JSONGenerator utility is the premier Day-N solution to automate these deployments seamlessly.

This article guides you through installing the utility and generating the specific JSON spec required for Post Bring-up operations.

Phase 1:Download and Install VCF JSON Generator Utility 9

You can install the VCF JSON Generator directly from PowerShell Gallery:

Please note that the procedures discussed in this guide reflect the features of version 9.0.0.1010, which was the most recent stable release at the time of writing.

Install-Module -Name VCF.JSONGenerator -RequiredVersion 9.0.0.1010

Note: Run PowerShell as Administrator. If prompted to trust the repository, type Y to continue.

Once installed, you can launch the utility:

PS ...> Start-VCFJsonGeneration

You will see the main menu similar to this:

Phase 2: Load Planning & Preparation Workbook

Once the utility is launched, you will enter an interactive CLI. Your first task is to load your environment data.

• Select Option 01 to choose your Planning & Preparation Workbook.
• Select the corresponding ID for your .xlsx file (e.g., vcf-9.0-planning-and-preparation-workbook.xlsx).

As shown in the main menu, the tool provides comprehensive coverage for Management Domains, AZ2 Hosts, and Cluster Creation.

• Enter the ID number of your workbook (e.g., 1) and press Enter.

Note:efore running the generation script, navigate to the folder where your Excel file is saved. The Start-VCFJsonGeneration command requires the source file to be in the current working directory to load correctly.

Enter the ID number of your workbook (e.g., 1) and press Enter.

Phase 3: Generating JSON for VCF Operations (Option 40)

After loading the workbook:

1. If you skipped the Aria Suite deployment during the initial Bring-up stage, this tool provides a dedicated path to generate the deployment specification for a later stage.
2. Navigate to the Additional Components JSON Generation section.
3. Select Option 40: VCF Operations and Automation Post Bringup.
4. The utility will parse your Excel workbook and export the configuration into a file named opsAutomation-dayNDeploymentSpec.json.
   You can now take this generated JSON file to the SDDC Manager to trigger the automated deployment of your operations stack.

Tip: Save the JSON file in a known location to use with VCF Installer or SDDC Manager.

Conclusion

The VCF JSON Generator Utility is a critical asset for any VCF Administrator. It eliminates the risk of manual syntax errors in complex JSON files and aligns your Day-N operations with VMware’s best practices. If you need to scale your operations stack after the initial build, Option 40 is your go-to solution.

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