VCF architecture best practices: management and workload domain

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VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) provides a standardized and automated approach to deploying and operating a Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC). At the core of VCF architecture are Management Domains and Workload Domains, which define how infrastructure, operations, and applications are logically and physically separated. Designing these domains correctly is critical for scalability, security, and operational efficiency.

This article outlines best practices for architecting Management and Workload Domains in VCF environments.

Understanding VCF Domains

A domain in VCF is a logical construct that groups compute, storage, and networking resources managed as a single entity. Each domain is independently lifecycle-managed by SDDC Manager.

VCF uses two primary domain types:

  • Management Domain

  • Workload Domains (VI, Tanzu, or specialized domains)

Management Domain: Purpose and Design Principles

The Management Domain hosts the core infrastructure components required to operate the SDDC, including:

  • SDDC Manager

  • vCenter Server

  • NSX Manager

  • vSAN

  • Optional supporting services (Aria Suite, Identity services)

Because this domain is foundational, it must be designed with maximum stability and availability.

Management Domain Best Practices

  1. Dedicated and Isolated Domain
    Never run business workloads in the Management Domain. Isolation reduces risk and prevents resource contention.

  2. Minimal Host Count
    Use the minimum supported number of hosts (typically 4) to reduce cost while maintaining resilience.

  3. High Availability Enabled by Default
    Enable vSphere HA and DRS to protect management components from host failures.

  4. Conservative Change Management
    Apply patches and upgrades only through SDDC Manager to maintain compliance and supportability.

  5. Secure Access Control
    Implement strict RBAC and limit administrative access to trusted operators only.

  6. Backup and Recovery
    Regularly back up vCenter, NSX Manager, and SDDC Manager using supported tools.

Workload Domains: Purpose and Flexibility

Workload Domains host tenant and application workloads. They provide scalability and flexibility while remaining operationally consistent with the management domain.

VCF supports multiple workload domain types:

  • Virtual Infrastructure (VI) Domains

  • Tanzu Kubernetes Domains

  • Specialized domains (e.g., VDI, DR)

Workload Domain Best Practices

  1. Separation by Function or Risk
    Create separate domains for production, development, test, and regulated workloads.

  2. Independent Lifecycle Management
    Each workload domain can be upgraded independently, reducing blast radius.

  3. Right-Sizing and Scaling
    Start with minimum supported hosts and scale horizontally as demand grows.

  4. Use NSX for Network Segmentation
    Implement micro-segmentation at the workload domain level for security isolation.

  5. Resource Reservations
    Use reservations and limits to protect critical workloads from resource starvation.

Networking Considerations Across Domains

  • Use a shared NSX fabric with separate logical constructs

  • Deploy dedicated Tier-1 gateways per workload domain

  • Standardize IP addressing and naming conventions

  • Avoid stretching L2 networks between domains unless required

Storage Best Practices

  • Use vSAN as the default storage platform

  • Align storage policies with workload SLAs

  • Avoid mixing workloads with conflicting I/O profiles in the same domain

Operations and Lifecycle Management

  • Use SDDC Manager as the single source of truth

  • Do not manually upgrade individual components

  • Validate compatibility before adding hosts or domains

  • Monitor health continuously using VMware Aria Operations

Security and Compliance

  • Apply security baselines consistently across domains

  • Use encryption for data at rest and in transit

  • Log all administrative actions centrally

  • Regularly audit domain configurations

Common Design Mistakes to Avoid

  • Running workloads in the Management Domain

  • Overloading a single workload domain

  • Mixing production and non-production workloads

  • Manual configuration drift outside SDDC Manager

  • Underestimating network and IP planning

Conclusion

A well-designed VCF architecture relies on strict separation between Management and Workload Domains. By following best practices around isolation, lifecycle management, security, and scalability, organizations can build a resilient and future-proof hybrid or multi-cloud platform. Proper domain design not only improves operational stability but also accelerates application delivery while reducing long-term risk.