Release 6.11 | August 2023

Release

Date

Build Number

VMware Aria Operations for Networks 6.11.0

29 August 2023

Build 1692527086

VMware Aria Operations for Networks (SaaS)

25 August 2023

Not applicable

This Release Notes covers release inforamtion for SaaS and On-Premises platforms of VMware Aria Operations for Networks. If any new or updated features are specific to only Saas or On-Premises platform, then the same is explicitly called out in the Release Notes.

Check for additions and updates to these release notes.

What's New

Here are the key features and capabilities of VMware Aria Operations for Networks 6.11:

VMware NSX-T Manager

Deprecation Notice

  • VMware NSX Data Center for vSphere (NSX-V) as a data source will be deprecated in the future releases.

  • The following services will be impacted after deprecation:

    • Addition of data source: You will be unable to add NSX-V as a data source. 

    • Data collection: Data collection will be stopped and disabled for existing NSX-V data sources.

    • Metrics and Flows: Associated metrics and flows will be deleted as per the retention period.

  • Action Required: Migrate your NSX-V instances to VMware NSX-T and add VMware NSX-T instances as data sources in VMware Aria Operations for Networks.

Network Assurance and Verification

  • Auto-arrange your entire Network Map or a set of selected groups within the Network Map. When you reset the map, the layout is automatically adjusted to best fit the screen.

    Options to auto arrange your Network Map.
  • Bulk select multiple devices on the Network Map and easily create groups. You can also select multiple devices and drag them together to a new location in the Network Map.

  • Create groups using IP address, IP range, subnet, and custom search. Newly added data sources matching the search criteria are automatically included in the relevant groups.

    Create groups using IP address, IP range, subnet, and custom search.
  • Get system generated alerts if any previously defined intents are not valid. You can also modify the intents to match your current scenario.

    System generated alert for a previously defined intent that is not valid anymore.
  • Perform Network Map path search with physical and virtual entities where the total network rule count and total physical entity count are within their respective limits. 

  • Intent validations are now independent of Network Map if the previously described limits are met.

  • VMware ESXi Hosts are now automatically grouped in Network Map based on their respective VMware vCenter clusters.

    Automatically grouped VMware ESXi Hosts in the Network Map.
  • Create multiple groups in Network Map using the CSV import option through command line interface. 

    Multiple groups in Network Map created using the CSV import option through the command line interface.

Platform Enhancements

  • VMware Aria Operations for Networks supports TLS version 1.3.

  • Co-existence of CPU Universal and Per Core Universal subscription is now supported. You can purchase Per Core Universal subscription for expansion while your CPU Universal subscription is still active. The usage is displayed in terms of cores.  

  • You can now configure hostnames for platform and collectors using the command line interface. These hostnames are displayed on the Infrastructure and Support page, search results, alerts, and the entity page. For more details, see How to change the hostname of a platform or a collector node.

    Hostnames for platform and collectors that are configured using the command line interface.
  • SNMP trap body in alerts have additional fields of problem entity and manager to improve the mean time to repair (MTTR).

Third-party devices

  • Add physical devices configured with stronger cipher algorithms for SSH connections as managed data sources. For more details on the supported cipher algorithms, see Encryption Algorithms and Ciphers.

  • You can now bulk update SNMP credentials for third-party data sources.

    Option to bulk update SNMP credentials for third-party data sources.
  • You can now export discovered devices as a CSV file.

    Option to export discovered devices as a CSV file.
  • You can now import devices from a CSV file to add them as data sources.

    Option to upload a CSV file to import and add devices as data sources.

Flow-based Application Discovery

  • You can now upload a CSV file which is used by Flow-based Application Discovery (FBAD) to improve the discovery of applications.

    • Use CSV export from an existing Content Management Database (CMDB) and upload that CSV file to add pre-existing application definitions and accelerate the application discovery process.

    • When you upload a CSV file to discover applications, the application names from the CSV file are used to name the applications and tiers.

    • Before saving the application, you can modify its members, tiers, and name.

    • Applications created using the CSV upload are monitored for updates and are shown on the Application Dashboard for approval.

    Option to upload a CSV file while discovering applications.
  • Flow-based Application Discovery now considers dynamic port ranges when grouping VMs into a tier. 

Custom Dashboards

  • VMware Aria Operations for Networks introduces new widgets in the widget library. Some of the newly introduced widgets are Top Talkers, Flow Insights, and Application widgets.

  • You can now edit the name of the widget title.

Others

Product Upgrade

The supported upgrade path is available at https://interopmatrix.vmware.com/#/Upgrade?productId=285.

Refer to the Upgrading VMware Aria Operations for Networks section for more information on the upgrade procedure.

Documentation

For additional information about new features, see the VMware Aria Operations for Networks documentation.

Note: As you use the VMware Aria Operations for Networks documentation, we want you to know that we value inclusion at VMware. To foster this principle within our customers, partners, and internal communities, we have updated some terminology in our documentation.

To view documentation and release notes for version 6.9 and earlie, see VMware vRealize Network Insight Documentation.

VMware Product Compatibility

The VMware Product Interoperability Matrix provides details about the compatibility of VMware Aria Operations for Networks with other VMware products.

VMware MIB Files

For MIB information, see Determining the MIB module listing, name, and type of an SNMP OID. You can download the SNMP MIB module file from the VMware Knowledge Base Article: 1013445.

Resolved Issues

  • Configured Firewall Rules widget for VM displayed incorrect number of firewall rules as the source and destination negate property for NSX Policy Firewall Rule was not set.

  • When data collection is disabled for a Cisco UCS data source, IP address of its Fabric Interconnects' management interfaces will not show up in VMware Aria Operations for Networks.

  • VMware Aria Operations for Networks will generate false Port Mode Mismatch alert when an L3 interface of a Cisco ACI switch (added as a data source in the product) is configured with sub-interfaces and connected with another switch (also added in the product).

Known Issues

  • Important - Upgrade to VMware Aria Operations for Networks 6.11 fails on the deployments where the installed originating version is 3.8 or below. This is due to package discrepancy and is applicable to both platform and collector. To confirm the originating version, login to CLI (ssh as consoleuser) only on Platform node (Platform1 in case of cluster) and run show-version history.

    If the starting version is 3.8 or below, then follow the steps in KB 94245 to apply the pre upgrade fix.

    Important:

    Deployments will be non-recoverable, if the steps in KB 94245 are not followed.

  • New - The OID for a particular field within SNMP traps is modified from the existing value of 1.3.6.1.6.3.18.1.3.0 to the new value of 1.3.6.1.4.1.6876.100.1.1.110. The field name linked to this OID is currently set as vmwPlatformIp. In VMware Aria Operations for Networks (SaaS) environments, this field can be associated with the collector IP.

  • New - When the upgrade is in progress and you access VMware Aria Operations for Networks platform from a different tab or browser, the upgrade dialog box shows the older version of VMware Aria Operations for Networks.

  • New - After upgrading to VMware Aria Operations for Networks version 6.11, you may see a 'Launcher Service Not Running' error. The error goes away after some time.

    Ignore this error as it has no impact on the functionality.

  • New - Device configuration of physical devices in Network Map path search result details may not be shown on some VMware Aria Operations for Networks setups.

  • New - In Network Map, when virtual entities are hidden due to UI entity count limit, executing a VM-VM path search makes Paths and topology panel spin indefinitely without returning any result.

    Reloading the page makes Network Map usable again.

  • New - In Crown Jewel Analysis, the internet node does not formed if the internet IP addresses are more than 100Ks.

  • New - Selective layout reset in Network Map for a sub-group does not ensure enclosing of the sub-group within its parent group boundary. The parent group boundary will be re-adjusted in the next map refresh cycle or if the user performs full auto-layout of the map.

  • New - Reachability intent checks may sometimes falsely pass when the source has a misconfigured gateway.

Release 6.10 | May 2023

Release

Date

Build Number

VMware Aria Operations for Networks 6.10.0

27 APR 2023

Build 1680883302

VMware Aria Operations for Networks (SaaS)

03 May 2023

Not applicable

This Release Notes covers release inforamtion for SaaS and On-Premises platforms of VMware Aria Operations for Networks. If any new or updated features are specific to only Saas or On-Premises platform, then the same is explicitly called out in the Release Notes.

Check for additions and updates to these release notes.

What's New

Rebranding

VMware Aria is a multi-cloud management portfolio that provides a set of end-to-end solutions for managing the cost, performance, configuration, and delivery of infrastructure and applications. VMware Aria is specially designed for the operational challenges of cloud-native applications and public cloud environments; VMware Aria delivers a new perspective on multi-cloud management.

As part of this transformation, VMware vRealize Network Insight is now VMware Aria Operations for Networks.

VMware NSX-T Manager

VMware Aria Operations for Networks introduces the following metrics for troubleshooting:

  • Host metrics:

    • Rx Missed Errors

    • Rx Ring Buffer Usage bytes

    • Tx Ring Buffer Usage bytes

    • Rx Ring Buffer Usage percent

    • Tx Ring Buffer Usage percent

  • NSX-T Edge metrics

    • CPU Core Micro flow-cache hit percent

    • CPU Core Mega flow-cache hit percent

Guided Network Troubleshooting

  • Insights are now relocated from the Dependency Graph widget to a dedicated Troubleshooting Insights widget.

  • The Summary widget is renamed to the Troubleshooting Information widget which is more concise and uses less screen space.

The Troubleshooting Information and Troubleshooting Insights widgets of the Troubleshooting Incidents screen.
  • Metric charts are updated to include more space to show the full name of the metric and entity. Now, you do need to hover to get full information.

  • The Dependency tree actions such as filters and extension icons are always visible when available.

The Metrics widget of the Troubleshooting Incidents screen with full names of the metrics.
Note:

VMware Aria Operations for Networks introduces new changes to the user experience for Guided Network Troubleshooting for better usability and to enable Beta testing of Auto-RCA. Contact your account team to join the Auto-RCA beta.

Third-party devices

  • You can now scan the network by either providing an IP range or by providing a Seed IP to discover various devices such as routers, switches, firewalls, and load balancers, and automatically add them in bulk as data sources.

  • You can also periodically run discovery profiles to find new supported devices in the network and then add them as managed data sources. This provides quick time to value if your network is large, or if you do not have a single source of truth for your physical devices.

  • Device discovery helps you to understand what is in your network and VMware Aria Operations for Networks automatically manages them once you add them as data sources.

Discovery Profiles in VMware Aria Operations for Networks.

Others

VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle  8.12.0 supports the installation of VMware Aria Operations for Networks 6.10. See VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle 8.12 Product Support Pack Release Notes. To install and upgrade VMware Aria Operations for Networks  by using VMware Aria Suite Lifecyle, see the VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle Installation, Upgrade, and Management Guide.

Product Upgrade

The supported upgrade path is available at https://interopmatrix.vmware.com/#/Upgrade?productId=285.

Refer to the Upgrading VMware Aria Operations for Networks section for more information on the upgrade procedure.

Documentation

For additional information about new features, see the VMware Aria Operations for Networks documentation.

Note: As you use the VMware Aria Operations for Networks documentation, we want you to know that we value inclusion at VMware. To foster this principle within our customers, partners, and internal communities, we have updated some terminology in our documentation.

To view documentation and release notes for version 6.9 and earlie, see VMware vRealize Network Insight Documentation.

VMware Product Compatibility

The VMware Product Interoperability Matrix provides details about the compatibility of VMware Aria Operations for Networks with other VMware products.

VMware MIB Files

For MIB information, see Determining the MIB module listing, name, and type of an SNMP OID. You can download the SNMP MIB module file from the VMware Knowledge Base Article: 1013445.

Resolved Issues

  • In Tag based Application Discovery, if VM tags contain special characters, such as *,{,}, \, ?, and +, then when you save the discovered applications, the saved applications show zero members.

    To resolve this issue, you must escape these special characters using “\” in the tier criteria while saving or editing the application.

  • When you upgrade vRealize Network Insight to version 6.9, you will see a slight delay in viewing the final status of the upgrade. During the delay, the upgrade modal can be blank with no details.

    To resolve this issue, if the upgrade modal does not refresh automatically in five minutes, refresh the current page to see the latest upgrade status and proceed to the login page.

  • When you define Reachability and Segmentation intents, VMware Aria Operations for Networks allows adding invalid values for source and destination ports. Also, if you do not enter any value for the source and destination ports, the intent processing gets stuck in the Verifying state.

    To resolve this issue, delete Reachability and Segmentation intents with invalid parameters.

  • Additional secondary IP addresses configured on VLAN interfaces of Arista, Cisco Catalyst, and Cisco Nexus devices are not processed by VMware Aria Operations for Networks.

  • If you have pinned a widget to the Pinboard with a custom time range, after migrating to Custom Dashboard, you see the corresponding widget in the Custom Dashboard does not show the information as per the previously selected custom time range.

  • On the Home page, the Service Mesh heatmap under the HCX tab in the Environments widget shows incorrect problems count.

  • On the Network map, when you edit a compressed user-defined group (which display only the count of entities but not the sub-entities) multiple time consecutively, the user-defined group may show incorrect members.

  • On the Network map, when you edit a compressed user-defined group (which display only the count of entities but not the sub-entities), the entities list in the edit dialog box does not show any information. However, if you zoom in further on the network map where you can see the sub-entities and then try to edit the group, the entities list is displayed accurately.

  • The path topology for Kubernetes Service to Kubernetes Service/Kubernetes Pod breaks if you change the default source or destination.

  • When you add VMware NSX-T Manager version 4.1.0 or higher in vRealize Network Insight 6.8, you see the Data collection failed due to an error. Please wait for some time error on the Accounts and Data Sources page.

  • The web proxy is not paired with the Platform when it is enabled for automation-based deployments such as ovftool and saas.

  • Cisco UCS FEX devices displays incorrect host-side port channels, in addition to actual fabric port channels.

Known Issues

  • New - When data collection is disabled for a Cisco UCS data source, IP address of its Fabric Interconnects' management interfaces will not show up in VMware Aria Operations for Networks.

  • New - VMware Aria Operations for Networks will generate false Port Mode Mismatch alert when an L3 interface of a Cisco ACI switch (added as a data source in the product) is configured with sub-interfaces and connected with another switch (also added in the product).

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