VMware vSAN: Fast Track [V7] — Lesson 1: vSAN architecture, object model, disk groups, cache and capacity tiers, fault domains, network requirements, licensing, sizing, compatibility, and design trade-offs

Learning Objectives

• Translate a realistic infrastructure or application requirement into an executable approach for vSAN architecture, object model, disk groups, cache and capacity tiers, fault domains, network requirements, licensing, sizing, compatibility, and design trade-offs.
• Use vSAN design worksheet and hardware-compatibility assessment to verify configuration, connectivity, security, and expected behavior.
• Explain how to recover safely when a capacity plan meeting usable-space needs but failing the required fault tolerance occurs.

Detailed Topics

• VSAN architecture
• Object model
• Disk groups
• Cache and capacity tiers
• Fault domains
• Network requirements
• Licensing
• Sizing
• Compatibility
• And design trade-offs
• Decision ownership, prerequisites, and acceptance evidence for vSAN architecture, object model, disk groups, cache and capacity tiers, fault domains, network requirements, licensing, sizing, compatibility, and design trade-offs
• Relevant access, security, capacity, dependency, performance, recovery, and support considerations

Instructor Demonstration

The demonstration traces vSAN architecture, object model, disk groups, cache and capacity tiers, fault domains, network requirements, licensing, sizing, compatibility, and design trade-offs from requirement through execution and review. Learners see where evidence should be collected, how vSAN design worksheet and hardware-compatibility assessment supports validation, and which warning signs require investigation.

Hands-On Exercise

Complete a guided task covering vSAN architecture, object model, disk groups, cache and capacity tiers, fault domains, network requirements, licensing, sizing, compatibility, and design trade-offs. Establish a working baseline, reproduce “a capacity plan meeting usable-space needs but failing the required fault tolerance,” isolate the responsible configuration or dependency, apply a reversible fix, and update vSAN design worksheet and hardware-compatibility assessment with before-and-after proof.

1. Define the requirement and identify dependencies before changing the environment.
2. Create a baseline result that can be compared with later changes.
3. Reproduce the exception and test one hypothesis at a time.
4. Complete the evidence record and obtain peer or instructor review.

Scenario Analysis

• Clarify the service trigger, affected components and roles, prerequisites, and acceptable result for vSAN architecture, object model, disk groups, cache and capacity tiers, fault domains, network requirements, licensing, sizing, compatibility, and design trade-offs.
• Compare at least two implementation or correction choices and identify which evidence would distinguish them.
• Decide how vSAN design worksheet and hardware-compatibility assessment should be reviewed, approved, retained, and handed to the next owner.

Troubleshooting Guidance

Avoid changing multiple settings at once while troubleshooting vSAN architecture, object model, disk groups, cache and capacity tiers, fault domains, network requirements, licensing, sizing, compatibility, and design trade-offs. Preserve the failing example, review vSAN design worksheet and hardware-compatibility assessment, and verify whether “a capacity plan meeting usable-space needs but failing the required fault tolerance” is the root cause. After remediation, confirm downstream effects and add a monitoring action.

Validation Checklist

• Prerequisites and role permissions for vSAN architecture, object model, disk groups, cache and capacity tiers, fault domains, network requirements, licensing, sizing, compatibility, and design trade-offs are confirmed before execution.
• The observed result agrees with expected values documented in vSAN design worksheet and hardware-compatibility assessment.
• Exceptions are explained with evidence instead of being hidden by manual correction.
• The final record names the approver, monitoring point, and next improvement action.

Lesson Outcome

Learners can apply vSAN architecture, object model, disk groups, cache and capacity tiers, fault domains, network requirements, licensing, sizing, compatibility, and design trade-offs, explain the decisions made, and defend the result with vSAN design worksheet and hardware-compatibility assessment.