Inside a Cloud Foundation 9 training lab

VEDP and VMware training labs give cloud engineers the knowledge they need to use Cloud Foundation 9. Find out more in our guide.



VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) is a software-defined data centre (SDDC) platform that integrates compute, storage, networking and cloud management.

Its main gift to organisations is enabling them to build and operate private or hybrid clouds with automated, consistent infrastructure. It provides management tools for both traditional VMs and modern container-based apps.

In June 2025, VMware launched VCF 9. It streamlines operations with a single interface for VMs and containers, introduces advanced NVMe memory tiering and offers native VPC support.

The result is VCF 8, only better – an SDDC built for the age of containerisation and AI.

If your business is interested in deploying VCF 9, you'll need staff who know their way around it. There are two main ways to achieve this.

The first is to let your staff teach themselves by drawing on online resources like YouTube tutorials and tech forums.

This has its advantages – above all, that it's free. But it has two significant and compelling drawbacks: the learner doesn't get teacher feedback, and they don't get a certificate at the end of it.

The other option is to invest in online training labs. VMware itself provides a free VCF 9 training course in its "Hands-On Labs" series.

Meanwhile, VEDP (VMware education delivery partner) course providers give students virtual sandbox environments where they can learn the ABC of VCF9.

Here at Ascend Cloud Solutions, we provide highly available and highly secure lab hosting services for four VEDP courses related to VCF 9. These are:

• VMware Cloud Foundation: Build, Manage and Secure [V9.0]
• VMware Cloud Foundation: Automate and Operate [V9.0]
• VMware Cloud Foundation: Troubleshooting [V9.0]
• VMware vSphere Foundation: Build, Manage and Operate [V9.0]
  
  

So, what do these training labs involve? Let's find out.

What is VMware Cloud Foundation: Build, Manage and Secure [V9.0]

VMware Cloud Foundation: Build, Manage and Secure [V9.0] is a course designed for architects, consultants, solution engineers and system administrators. It presupposes knowledge of VMware vSphere, VMware NSX and vSAN.

It's a five-day course that teaches learners how to deploy, manage and secure private cloud environments with VCF 9.

It covers everything from architecture to availability, from life cycle management to upgrades.

Learn more about Build, Manage and Secure.

What is VMware Cloud Foundation: Automate and Operate [V9.0]?

VMware Cloud Foundation: Automate and Operate [V9.0] is a five-day course that teaches administrators and systems architects about automation and day-2 operations.

It presupposes a lot of knowledge and requires learners to have taken VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage and VMware NSX: Install, Configure, Manage.

Learn more about Automate and Operate.

What is VMware Cloud Foundation: Troubleshooting [V9.0]?

As the name suggests, this course covers troubleshooting in VCF9. Learners can expect five days of lectures and hands-on lab exercises.

It's intended for system admins, consultants and solution engineers. Learners are expected to have completed the VMware Cloud Foundation Fundamentals for Technical Support course. Familiarity with command-line interfaces is also desirable.

Learn more about Troubleshooting.

What is VMware vSphere Foundation: Build, Manage and Operate [V9.0]

This course covers automation and day-2 operations in VCF 9. It involves five days of learning for systems administrators and architects looking to deepen their knowledge in these areas.

Learners are expected to have already taken two VEDP courses: VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage and VMware NSX: Install, Configure, Manage.

Learn more about Build, Manage and Operate.

What are VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 Hands-on Labs?

VCF 9 Hands-On Labs are interactive, browser-based environments that give learners free and instant access to explore VCF 9's private cloud infrastructure.

This enables learners to gain practical experience with new features such as enhanced automation, the VCF installer and performance benchmarking. All this can be achieved without any local hardware installation.

Like VEDP courses, VMware Hands-On Labs are flexible. This means they can be accessed anywhere and carried out at the learner's pace.

And like VEDP, the labs are repeatable. This means learners can drill essential skills until they're deeply embedded.

For more information about Hands-On Labs for VCF 9, including a list of labs, check out the VMware website.

How is VMware Cloud Foundation 9 better than previous versions?

VMware Cloud Foundation 9 provides administrators with many benefits that previous versions lacked. These include:

1. It enables management consolidation under a single console called VCF Operations.
   
2. It features an enhanced vSphere Supervisor for managing VMs, Kubernetes and other modern apps.
   
3. It introduces NVMe memory tiering. This maximises server capacity and increases performance and efficiency.
4. It delivers native VPCs in vCenter and NSX Enhanced Data Path.
5. The full stack can be deployed in hours rather than weeks. This helps streamline upgrades and patch management.
6. It enhances support for AI workloads with vMotion for vGPUs.
7. It strengthens security with built-in hardening and vDefend for cyber resilience.
   
   

All these improvements make VCF 9 a worthwhile upgrade or deployment for enterprises looking to virtualise their compute, storage, networking and cloud management.

To use it effectively, however, some level of training is required. VEDP courses provide the hands-on experience that IT staff need to get the best out of this versatile and complex bit of kit.

How we can help

At Ascend Cloud Solutions, we provide VMware-authorised VEDP course providers with robust, highly available lab hosting services.

Many of our experts are ex-VMware staff. They work hard behind the scenes to ensure the learning experience is smooth for both teachers and learners – and we're always on hand to troubleshoot if needed.

Are you in the market for lab hosting? Get in touch with our VMware specialists to discuss your needs today.