VMware Cloud Foundation 9 Installation Troubleshooting – Know Where to Look!

Troubleshooting VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0 installations becomes a lot easier when you know exactly which log files to review during each stage of deployment.

Whether you’re deploying the VCF platform, vCenter, NSX, or newer components like VCF Fleet and Automation, VMware logs every operation—you just need to know where to look.

In this blog, I’ll guide you through the key log file locations for each component based on deployment stage and appliance type.

The follow VMware Cloud Foundation Installation process from the VMware Cloud Foundation Installer.

VCF Installation & Component Log Locations

Let’s break it down by deployment stage, appliance, and log path:

✅ VCF Installation

Appliance: VCF Installer📍 Log File:/var/log/vmware/vcf/domainmanager/domainmanager.log

✅ vCenter Deployment

Appliance: VCF Installer📍 Log Files:

• /var/log/vmware/vcf/domainmanager/domainmanager.log

• /var/log/vmware/vcf/domainmanager/ci-installer-<id>/workflow_<id>/vcsa-cli-installer.log

✅ SDDC Manager Deployment

Appliance: VCF Installer📍 Log Files:

• /var/log/vmware/vcf/domainmanager/domainmanager.log

• /var/log/vmware/vcf/domainmanager/sddc-manager-ovf-tool<id>.log

✅ vSphere Cluster Configuration

Appliance: SDDC Manager📍 Log File:/var/log/vmware/vcf/domainmanager/domainmanager.log

✅ NSX Deployment

Appliance: SDDC Manager📍 Log Files:

• /var/log/vmware/vcf/domainmanager/domainmanager.log

• /var/log/vmware/vcf/domainmanager/nsx-ovf<id>.log

🚀 VCF Fleet & Automation Log Files (New in VCF 9)

With the introduction of VCF Fleet Management, VCF Operations, and VCF Automation, we now have additional services that log into the vRealize Lifecycle Manager (vRLCM) location.

✅ VCF Fleet Management Deployment

Appliance: SDDC Manager📍 Log File:/var/log/vmware/vcf/domainmanager/domainmanager.log

✅ VCF Operations Deployment

Appliance: VCF Fleet Management📍 Log File:/var/log/vrlcm/vmware_vrlcm.log

✅ VCF Automation Deployment

Appliance: VCF Fleet Management📍 Log Files:

• /var/log/vrlcm/vmware_vrlcm.log

• /var/log/vrlcm/vmsp_bootstrap_<id>.log

🧠 Tips for Effective Log Review

• Always check domainmanager.log for any orchestration issues during core installations.

• Use the <id> values to filter relevant logs for vCenter, NSX, or Automation errors.

• If a component fails to deploy, go straight to its associated OVF or Bootstrap log.

• Tail logs in real-time using:tail -f /var/log/vmware/vcf/domainmanager/domainmanager.log

📌 Conclusion

When deploying VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0, visibility is key. By knowing which log files correspond to each phase of installation or configuration, you can quickly isolate and resolve issues, saving valuable time and effort.

👉 Stay tuned for future blogs where I’ll dive deeper into parsing specific log errors and mapping them to resolution steps.

If you're working on a VCF 9.0 deployment or upgrade, bookmark this post — it might just save your day.