The Architect’s Edge: VMware Adoption & VCF Insights — November 2025 YESvember Edition
From the desk of Christopher Kusek, Chief Technology Architect
This month’s theme is clear: Education fuels adoption and accelerates value. We intentionally held this issue until after our October Two-Hour Experts AMA Webinar so we could weave in what we heard from you — learning, enablement, and hands-on practice are top of mind across every role. That’s why this special YESvember edition focuses on empowering teams to learn, build, and apply, driving faster, safer, and more measurable outcomes across VMware Cloud Foundation.
It’s about taking the foundation you already have and turning it into something greater — value that extends far beyond “naked vSphere,” unlocking adoption and consumption at scale through shared knowledge, practice, and action.
Watch (or re-watch) the expert panel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8NGKml6hKc
Quick favor: If you didn’t realize your company already have learning access, please Like, comment “YES to Learning”, on the LinkedIn Article or share this with your NetOps/SecOps/Storage/Platform teammates. Let’s bring everyone in!
Top Highlights This Month
- Activate your VCF Learning Entitlements (org-wide): If you’re a VCF Platform customer, your employees get complimentary access to VCF Digital Learning and open-enrollment ILT. Start with the VCF Learning eBook and Learning@Broadcom instructions.
- Turn on VMware Hands-on Labs (HOL): One-time profile setup, then launch VCF 9.x labs on demand. HOL access workflow | HOL catalog.
- Build your own lab with VMware Holodeck: Scripted, repeatable VCF lab deployment (VCF 9.0.1, 9.0, 5.2.x). Docs | Release notes | GitHub.
- Optional—request a 90-day trial: After training and labs, use Self-service Trials & Beta in Broadcom Support Portal. Trial workflow.
YESvember Priorities (in this order)
Priority 1 — Activate your VCF Learning Entitlements (Education for Everyone)
Who’s eligible: VCF Platform customers/subscribers receive complimentary access to Digital Learning and open-enrollment ILT for their employees. The eBook and program materials explain eligibility and access, and the Learning@Broadcom guide shows the login flow.
- Program blog: https://blogs.vmware.com/cloud-foundation/2024/08/27/broadcom-private-cloud-modernization-program/
- How to begin a course: https://www.vmware.com/docs/searching-for-and-beginning-a-vmware-vcf-digital-learning-course
Fast path (2 clicks): Open the learning eBook; click “Start here to access Digital Learning Entitlement” ? sign in to Learning@Broadcom ? enroll. (If deep links don’t resolve, log into Learning@Broadcom first, then retry.)
Spread the word: Learning is not just for VI admins—share the link with Networking, Security, Storage, Platform/Automation, SRE, Containers and App teams. That’s how value moves beyond “naked vSphere.” (Program overview)
Priority 2 — Turn on VMware Hands-on Labs (HOL) access
Why: Courses create understanding, labs create reflexes. Get access once, then launch VCF 9.x labs any time.
One-time access setup: HOL access KB. Support Portal ? My Profile ? Build your Profile ? Broadcom Software ? VMware Hands-on Labs Access ? submit ? Confirm & Continue.
Then use your Support Portal credentials at labs.hol.vmware.com. Lab catalog
Priority 3 — Build your own nested VCF lab with VMware Holodeck
When you need a repeatable, scripted lab you control, Holodeck stands out.
Why teams love it: Customizable CIDR/VLANs and built-in prechecks help you stand up VCF-aligned labs quickly—great for role-based enablement and dry runs.
Priority 4 (Optional, after 1–3) — Request a 90-day trial
When you’re ready to validate in your environment:
- Log in to the Broadcom Support Portal with your Enterprise profile.
- Left nav ? Trial & Beta ? All Trials.
- Request Trial ? select Site ID + quantity (varies by product).
- A $0 / 90-day contract is created; when fulfilled, the tile shows expiration date, downloads, and license keys. Policy notes: Self-service trials default to 90 days; one trial per product per Site ID. Full steps: Trial workflow
Five Takeaways from the October Experts Webinar (and quick answers)
- “Do only VI admins get training?” No—VCF Platform and Strategic customers have org-wide entitlements for employees (Digital Learning + open-enrollment ILT). eBook | Learning@Broadcom
- “How do I get into labs fast?” Turn on HOL access once via the Support Portal workflow, then launch VCF 9.x labs on demand.
- “We want a lab we can rebuild/reset—what’s best?” Holodeck for a scripted, repeatable VCF lab in your environment. Docs
- “Trial first or train first?” Our guidance: train ? labs ? (then) trial. Trial workflow
- “Where do I find the latest 9.0.1/8.18.5 updates?” VCF 9.0.1 (Ops) | Aria Operations 8.18.5
What’s Recent
- Replay: October Experts Webinar (AMA + panel) — learning access, HOL setup, lab-building, and 9.0.1 updates
- Docs refresh: VCF 9.0 highlights
Four-Week YESvember Plan (Ready to paste to for your Teams)
- Week 1: Everyone who touches the platform logs into Learning@Broadcom and enables HOL access. How-to | HOL
- Week 2: Each role completes Module 1; at least one open-enrollment ILT seat booked. Program
- Week 3: Launch one Holodeck lab per squad. Docs
- Week 4: If needed, request a 90-day trial to validate a scoped use case. Workflow
Resource Locker (paste-ready links)
Learning & Entitlements: eBook | Program blog | Learning@Broadcom
Hands-on Labs: HOL access KB | HOL catalog
Build a Lab: Holodeck docs | Release notes | GitHub
Trials: KB 367474
Latest releases: VCF 9.0.1 Ops | Aria Operations 8.18.5
In Case You Missed It
Architect’s Edge on YouTube (replays, walkthroughs, expert panels): https://www.youtube.com/@TheArchitectsEdge
Final Thoughts
YESvember is about removing first-mile friction: turn on access, learn together, practice in labs, then validate with trials. When everyone—not just VI admins—has a path, the platform delivers value faster and farther.
Have questions or feedback? We’d love to hear from you or connect on LinkedIn.
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Historical edition: originally published on LinkedIn November 11, 2025. Original references are retained for review; this import must be checked against the full source before publication.
