In VCF 5.2, the logical design focuses on high-level architectural decisions that define the system’s

structure and behavior, as opposed to physical or operational details. Networking decisions in the

logical design emphasize scalability, security policies, and connectivity frameworks, per the VCF 5.2

Architectural Guide. Let’s evaluate each:

Option A: Use of 2x 64-port Cisco Nexus 9300 for top-of-rack ESXi host switches

This specifies physical hardware, a detail typically documented in the physical design (e.g., BOM, rack

layout). The VCF 5.2 Design Guide distinguishes hardware choices as physical, not logical, unless they

dictate architecture (e.g., spine-leaf), which isn’t implied here.

Option B: NSX Distributed Firewall (DFW) rule to block all traffic by default

This is a security policy configuration within NSX, defining how traffic is controlled. While critical, it’s

an operational or detailed design decision (e.g., rule set), not a high-level logical design element. The

VCF 5.2 Networking Guide places DFW rules in implementation details, not the logical overview.

Option C: Implement overlay network technology to scale across data centers

Overlay networking (e.g., NSX VXLAN or Geneve) is a foundational architectural decision in VCF,

enabling scalability, multi-site connectivity, and logical separation of networks. The VCF 5.2

Architectural Guide highlights overlays as a core logical design component, directly impacting how

the solution scales across data centers, making it a prime candidate for the logical design.

Option D: Configure Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) - Listen mode on all Distributed Virtual Switches

(DVS)

CDP in Listen mode aids network discovery and troubleshooting on DVS. This is a configuration

setting, not a logical design decision. The VCF 5.2 Networking Guide treats such protocol settings as

operational details, not architectural choices.

Conclusion:

Option C belongs in the logical design, as it defines a scalable networking architecture critical to VCF

5.2’s multi-data center capabilities.

Reference:

VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2 Architectural Guide (docs.vmware.com): Logical Design and Overlay

Networking.

VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2 Networking Guide (docs.vmware.com): NSX and DVS Configuration.

VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2 Design Guide (docs.vmware.com): Logical vs. Physical Design.