William Lam

I hear everyone wants more Tokens ... I've got an idea #IYKYK 😅

🔥🆕 Updated Technical Whitepapers for Microsoft workloads on VCF💪

🔸SQL Server Failover Cluster on #VCF9 https://www.vmware.com/docs/mssql-fci-vcf-9
🔹SQL Server on VCF https://www.vmware.com/docs/architecting-mssql-vcf
🔸SQL Server HA on VCF https://www.vmware.com/docs/architecting-mssql-ha-vcf
🔹Active Directory on VCF https://www.vmware.com/docs/active-directory-domain-services-vcf

Fairly minimal changes to my Automated VCF Lab 9 Fleet Deploy Script to support #VCF91

Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised at my approach for creating script (before AI), especially for easy update ☺️

~25min to deploy VCF Installer, Nested ESX hosts & begin VCF Fleet deploy! 🙌

⚙️ Automation pays massive dividends in long run, especially when you need it the most! 😅

Needed to rebuild my #VCF9 lab, everything automated including physical ESX host deployment using this approach https://williamlam.com/2025/07/custom-uefi-boot-menu-for-esxi-9-0-using-refind.html all rebuilt & fully configured in <5min! 🙌

I 🕵️‍♂️👀 some new #VVF and #VCF Betas that you can sign up! 😁

https://community.broadcom.com/beta-portal/beta-portal-home

#VCF9 documentation was recently updated to help clarify that VCF Automation (VCFA) is an optional component as part of Day-0 & can be deployed as Day-N (optional). Regardless of VCFA being deployed, you will always have ability to deploy VKS workloads!

https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/vmware-cis/vcf/vcf-9-0-and-later/9-0/deployment/deploying-a-new-vmware-cloud-foundation-or-vmware-vsphere-foundation-private-cloud-/deploy-a-new-vcf-fleet-or-a-new-vcf-instance.html#:~:text=VCF%20Installer%20allows%20you%20to%20skip%20VCF%20Automation

Always get distracted when deploying a new vSphere Kubernetes Service (VKS) Cluster ... I need to make sure its operationally ready for the Platform Engr team 😅 🕹️👾

This might need to be a new Supervisor Service 😆

#VCF9

Just finished upgraded to Fusion Pro 25H2! 👌

📢 VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 5.2.3 is now available!

📔https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/vmware-cis/vcf/vcf-5-2-and-earlier/5-2/vcf-release-notes/vmware-cloud-foundation-523-release-notes.html

💿 https://support.broadcom.com/group/ecx/productfiles?subFamily=VMware%20Cloud%20Foundation&displayGroup=Legacy%20VMware%20Cloud%20Foundation%20Versions&release=5.2.3&os=&servicePk=540472&language=EN

The Broadcom Compatibility Guide (BCG) was recently updated to include a new field called "VCF Supported. Confirm w/Vendor" which is explained in a newly published KB - Deprecated CPU Systems / Servers in ESX 9.0 and implications for support https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/428874

[🆕] - Quick Tip: High CPU Utilization on ESX due to Slow Entropy from AMD Zen 4 CPUs https://williamlam.com/2026/04/quick-tip-high-cpu-utilization-on-esx-due-to-slow-entropy-from-amd-zen-4-cpus.html

📢 If you're MS-A2 owner or have AMD Ryzen-based setup running ESX, make sure to apply this workaround, it'll reduce your overall CPU utilization!

[🆕] - USB Native Network Driver for ESXi supports Realtek RTL8157 & RTL8156BG https://williamlam.com/2026/02/usb-native-network-driver-for-esxi-supports-realtek-rtl8157-rtl8156bg.html

[🆕] - Automated Deployment of VCF Operations 9 OVA https://williamlam.com/2026/02/automated-deployment-of-vcf-operations-9-ova.html

#VVF9 #VCF9

🆕 Broadcom KB regarding the upcoming expirations of Microsoft Secure Boot 2011 Certificates 🔑 and how to handle them in a vSphere-based environment https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/423893

Had to go to the source to get some storage! 😅

Thanks to the Micron team for the NVMe devices, perfect timing with launch of #VCF91

Definitely will super charge my vSAN ESA + NVMe Tiering setup 🚀

👏 Just like Harbor, the defacto OSS Container Registry solution for the Kubernetes eco-system, VMware & now Broadcom continues to lead in OSS contributions to K8s community by donating Velero (Backup/DR framework for k8s) to the CNCF 🥳

https://thenewstack.io/broadcom-velero-cncf-kubernetes/

This will be a MUST attend briefing tomorrow (05/05) on our next planned release of ☁️ VMware Cloud Foundation (#VCF) ... 😁

Sign Up 👉 https://go-vmware.broadcom.com/inside-vmware-cloud-foundation

[UPDATED] - AMD Zen4/Zen5 IPMI Thermal Driver for ESX Fling https://williamlam.com/2026/05/amd-zen4-zen5-ipmi-thermal-driver-for-esx-fling.html

👇Includes instructions to add support additional AMD-based systems including:
🔸Zen 4 - Raphael, Granite Ridge, Phoenix
🔹Zen 5 - Strix Point, Krackan, Strix Halo

🆕 VMware Workstation & Fusion 25H2u1 releases! 🥳

💻Workstation:

📔https://lnkd.in/ggvRp-nU
💿 https://lnkd.in/gw4GK8Pm

🖥️ Fusion:

📔https://lnkd.in/g-U4mHN6
💿https://lnkd.in/gQqdvmm7

[🆕] - Automating Lab Optimizations for Post-Deployment of VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) https://williamlam.com/2026/04/automating-lab-optimizations-for-post-deployment-of-vmware-cloud-foundation-vcf.html

☝️Finally found some time to automate (did old fashion way, no AI was used) a few tweaks for lab deployments of #VCF9

Really digging VS Code + GitHub Copilot ... used it refactor some Python code 👌

At some point ... I asked it to create a new function to remove repetitive code, it did BUT it ended up creating function def that collided w/same variable name 🤦

Spent past few hours debugging 😫