This section describes the tasks required to perform a VMware Cloud Foundation upgrade. Depending on your source VMware Cloud Foundation version, you may need to perform certain tasks multiple times before proceeding to the next task.

Table 1. Prepare for Upgrade

Task

Additional Information

Allocate a temporary IP address for each vCenter Server upgrade

Required for each vCenter Server upgrade. Must be allocated from the management subnet. The same IP can be reused.

Obtain updated licenses

New licenses required for:

  • vSAN 8.x

  • vSphere 8

Verify there are no expired or expiring passwords

Review the password management dashboard in SDDC Manager.

Verify there are no expired or expiring certificates

Review the certificates tab for each workload domain.

Verify ESXi host TPM module states

[Conditional] If ESXi hosts have TPM modules in use, verify they are running the latest 2.0 firmware. If not in use they must be disabled in the BIOS.

Download Bundles Using SDDC Manager

[Conditional] Online depot connectivity required

Configure a Proxy Server for Downloading Bundles

[Conditional] If a proxy server is required for online depot connectivity

Download Bundles with the Bundle Transfer Utility

[Conditional] For offline bundle download

Download NSX Global Manager Upgrade Bundle

[Conditional] Required when using NSX Federation
Table 2. Management Domain Upgrade

Task

Additional Information

VMware Cloud Foundation Upgrade Prerequisites

Apply the VMware Cloud Foundation Upgrade Bundle

Apply the VMware Cloud Foundation Configuration Drift Bundle

Update Compatibility Data with the Bundle Transfer Utility

[Conditional] Required when using offline bundle download

Upgrade vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager for VMware Cloud Foundation

[Conditional] If vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager is present

Upgrade vRealize Suite Products for VMware Cloud Foundation

[Conditional] If vRealize Suite Products are present

Upgrade NSX from 3.1.3

  • [Conditional] If source NSX version is 3.1.3

  • Upgrade NSX to 3.2.1.2.0 using SDDC Manager

  • [Conditional] If NSX Federation is present, upgrade the NSX Local Manager in both VMware Cloud Foundation instances before proceeding

Upgrade NSX Global Managers from 3.1.3

  • [Conditional] If source NSX version is 3.1.3

  • [Conditional] If NSX Federation is present

  • Upgrade NSX Global Managers to 3.2.1.2.0 using the Global Manager UI

  • Upgrade standby global manager, followed by active global manager

Upgrade NSX Global Managers from 3.2.1.2.0

  • [Conditional] If source NSX version is 3.2.1.2.0

  • [Conditional] If NSX Federation is present

  • Upgrade NSX Global Managers to 4.0.1.1 using the Global Manager UI

  • Upgrade standby global manager, followed by active global manager

Note:

Upgrading global managers to this interim build is required to maintain N±1 between local and global managers

Upgrade NSX from 3.2.1.2.0

  • [Conditional] If source NSX version is 3.2.1.2.0

  • Upgrade NSX to 4.1.0.2.0 using SDDC Manager

  • [Conditional] If NSX Federation is present, upgrade the NSX Local Manager in both VMware Cloud Foundation instances before proceeding

Upgrade NSX Global Managers from 4.0.1.1

  • [Conditional] If source NSX version is 4.0.1.1

  • [Conditional] If NSX Federation is present

  • Upgrade NSX Global Managers to 4.1.0.2.0 using the Global Manager UI

  • Upgrade standby global manager, followed by active global manager

Upgrade vCenter Server for VMware Cloud Foundation

Requires a temporary IP address in the management subnet
Upgrade VxRail Manager and ESXi Hosts for VMware Cloud Foundation

Upgrade vSAN Witness Host for VMware Cloud Foundation

[Conditional] If the vSAN cluster is stretched

Update Licenses for a Workload Domain

Update licenses for:

  • vSAN 8.x

  • vSphere 8

Apply Configuration Updates

[Conditional] If there are configuration updates required
Table 3. VI Workload Domain Upgrade

Task

Additional Information

Plan VI Workload Domain Upgrade

Required to make appicable bundles available to the VI workload domain

VMware Cloud Foundation Upgrade Prerequisites

Perform Update Precheck in SDDC Manager 5.0

Upgrade NSX from 3.1.3

  • [Conditional] If source NSX version is 3.1.3

  • Upgrade NSX from 3.1.3 to 3.2.1.2.0 using SDDC Manager

  • [Conditional] If NSX Federation is present, upgrade the local manager in both VMware Cloud Foundation instances before proceeding

Upgrade NSX Global Managers from 3.1.3

  • [Conditional] If source NSX version is 3.1.3

  • [Conditional] If NSX Federation is present

  • Upgrade NSX Global Managers from 3.1.3 to 3.2.1.2.0 using the Global Manager UI

  • Upgrade standby global manager, followed by active global manager

Upgrade NSX Global Managers from 3.2.1.2.0

  • [Conditional] If source NSX version is 3.2.1.2.0

  • [Conditional] If NSX Federation is present

  • Upgrade NSX Global Managers from 3.2.1.2.0 to 4.0.1.1 using the Global Manager UI

  • Upgrade standby global manager, followed by active global manager

Upgrade NSX from 3.2.1.2.0

  • [Conditional] If source NSX version is 3.2.1.2.0

  • Upgrade NSX from 3.2.1.2.0 to 4.1.0.2.0 using SDDC Manager

  • [Conditional] If NSX Federation is present, upgrade the local manager in both VMware Cloud Foundation instances before proceeding

Upgrade NSX Global Managers from 4.0.1.1

  • [Conditional] If source NSX version is 4.0.1.1

  • [Conditional] If NSX Federation is present

  • Upgrade NSX Global Managers from 4.0.1.1 to 4.1.0.2.0 using the Global Manager UI

  • Upgrade standby global manager, followed by active global manager

Upgrade vCenter Server for VMware Cloud Foundation

Requires a temporary IP address in the management subnet
Upgrade VxRail Manager and ESXi Hosts for VMware Cloud Foundation

Upgrade vSAN Witness Host for VMware Cloud Foundation

[Conditional] If the vSAN cluster is stretched

Update Licenses for a Workload Domain

Update licenses for:

  • vSAN 8.x

  • vSphere 8

Apply Configuration Updates

[Conditional] If there are configuration updates required