Lifecycle Management enables you to perform automated updates on SDDC Manager, vCenter Server, ESXi, NSX-T Data Center, and vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager. Bundles can be downloaded and applied manually or scheduled within your maintenance window.

Bundle Types

VMware Cloud Foundation includes two types of bundles.

Install Bundles

An install bundle includes software binaries to install VI workload domains and vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager. vRealize Suite install bundles can be downloaded and synchronized to vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager.

VMware Cloud Foundation includes the following install bundles:
  • A VI workload domain install bundle is used to deploy later versions of the software components instead of the versions in your original VMware Cloud Foundation installation. It includes software binaries for vCenter Server and NSX-T Data Center.
  • The vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager install bundle is used for deploying vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager.
  • The Workspace ONE Access install bundle is used for deploying Workspace ONE Access.
  • Install bundles are also available for vRealize Operations, vRealize Log Insight, and vRealize Automation which are synchronized with vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager where they can then be deployed.

Update or Upgrade Bundles

An update or upgrade bundle includes software binaries to update the appropriate VMware Cloud Foundation software components. In most cases, an upgrade bundle must be applied to the management domain before it can be applied to VI workload domains.