VMware Explore 2025 featured an exciting session, [CODEQT1247LV] Automagically Deploy VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 in Homelab Using VMware Cloud Foundation Holodeck Toolkit. The presentation showcased how the VMware Cloud Foundation Holodeck Toolkit makes it easier than ever to deploy a fully functional nested VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0 lab—in just a few commands.
For IT professionals, architects, developers, and homelab enthusiasts, this toolkit is a breakthrough. Instead of struggling with the complexity of a VCF deployment, Holodeck offers a repeatable, automated process that saves both time and effort.
What Is the VMware Cloud Foundation Holodeck Toolkit?
The Holodeck Toolkit is a PowerShell-based automation framework designed for building nested VCF environments on VMware ESXi or a vSphere cluster. It’s ideal for:
- Proof-of-concept deployments
- Technical demos and enablement sessions
- Training environments
- Hands-on testing of VCF 5.2.x and VCF 9.0 features
With just four PowerShell commands, users can deploy an entire VCF management domain and optional workload domains, complete with NSX, vCenter, SDDC Manager, and vSAN ReadyNodes.
Key Features of VMware Holodeck for VCF 9.0
The session highlighted several powerful features included in Holodeck environments:
- VCF 9.0 and 5.2.x support
- Management Domain with 4 nested ESXi hosts, vSAN, vCenter, NSX, and SDDC Manager
- Optional Workload Domain with 3 nested ESXi hosts and Supervisor services
- vSAN ESA & OSA support
- NSX Edge Clusters deployable in both management and workload domains
- Provision-only mode for greenfield VCF Installer + ESXi testing
- Custom CIDR support for flexible network design
This makes Holodeck an ideal solution for homelabs and VCF training environments, but it is not intended for production workloads.
The HoloRouter Appliance: Backbone of the Lab
At the core of every Holodeck deployment is the HoloRouter appliance, a Photon OS–based virtual appliance that provides critical networking and infrastructure services for the nested VCF environment:
- DNS, DHCP, NTP
- Firewall and BGP routing
- Proxy services for VCF Installer
- L3 routing between nested VLANs
- Webtop GUI for easy access and management
- Job scheduling and automation
- Integrated PowerShell + PowerCLI
The HoloRouter ensures smooth connectivity between nested VCF environments and external networks, enabling realistic lab testing.
Pre-requisites
| VCF 9.0 | Single Site | Dual Site |
| CPU | 24 | 48 |
| Memory | 325 GB | 768 GB |
| Disk | 1.1 TB | 2.5TB |
Links:
- Replay session: Automagically Deploy VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 in Homelab Using VMware Cloud Foundation Holodeck Toolkit [CODEQT1247LV]
- Holodeck 9.0
