VMware releases certified VMware Data Services Manager database templates and software updates to Tanzu Network. You can manage software updates for the DSM plugin database templates.
Audience
The procedures in this topic can be performed by a vSphere administrator or a VMware Data Services Manager user in the DSM admin role.
Checking for Upgrades to the DSM Plugin
If you have configured a Tanzu Net Token, the Provider checks for new releases every eight hours.
You can choose to check updates available for the DSM plugin software on-demand and not wait for the daily automatic check for updates from Tanzu Network.
Perform the following procedure to check for available updates for the DSM plugin software on-demand.
Check for Upgrades from the vSphere Client
As a vSphere administrator, you can perform this procedure from the vSphere Client.
In the vSphere Client, navigate to vCenter Server, click the Configure tab, and click Version & Upgrade under VMware Data Services Manager.
This action displays the Version & Upgrade view.
Click CHECK FOR UPGRADE in the Available Upgrades & History pane.
The system looks for new releases in Tanzu Network. If any updates are available, they are displayed in the Available Upgrades table.
Check for Upgrades from the DSM Console
As a DSM administrator, you use the DSM console to perform this procedure.
Select Version & Upgrade from the left navigation pane, and click the DSM System tab.
Click CHECK FOR UPGRADE in the Available Upgrades & History pane.
The system looks for new releases in Tanzu Network. If any updates are available, they are displayed in the Available Upgrades table.
Automatically Upgrading the DSM Plugin
Software upgrades can affect the functions involving the appliances that are being updated. You can set the maintenance policy to configure and control automatic updates for the DSM plugin software. This feature helps you control the time and duration of downtime of appliances.
Only three attempts are made with an interval of 10 minutes in between attempts. Irrespective of the configured duration of software updates, at least one attempt is made to complete a chain of software updates of appliances. If automatic updates fail, you can either edit the maintenance policy to set up a new maintenance policy or you can resort to manual software updates of appliances.
VMware Data Services Manager recommends a minimum of 45 minutes and a maximum of 180 minutes of duration for maintenance policy.
Limitations for Automatic DSM Plugin Updates
Consider the following limitations for automatic software updates to the DSM plugin:
- You cannot update the maintenance policy for updates if software update of a DSM plugin VM is in progress.
- You cannot stop the software update once it starts.
- A maximum of three attempts, with an interval of 10 minutes, are made for software updates during the configured maintenance duration.
- If you edit the maintenance policy during the 10 minute interval between attempts of automatic software updates, then the next attempt is cancelled and the newly configured maintenance policy comes into effect.
- You cannot deactivate automatic updates after you have activated it.
Set the Maintenance Policy from the vSphere Client
Perform the following steps to set up or edit the maintenance policy for automatic software updates of the DSM plugin. As a vSphere administrator, you perform this procedure from the vSphere Client.
In the vSphere Client, navigate to vCenter Server, click the Configure tab, and click Version & Upgrade under VMware Data Services Manager.
This action displays the Version & Upgrade view.
In the Maintenance Policy pane, click EDIT.
The Maintenance Policy dialog box appears.
In the Maintenance Policy dialog box, set the following properties of the maintenance policy, and then click UPDATE.
Note: Date and time are specified only in UTC.
Property Description Start Date Enter the start date of the maintenance policy. Start Time Use the drop downs to enter the start time of the software update every day in hours and minutes. Duration Enter the duration to apply the software updates.
Set the Maintenance Policy from the DSM Console
A DSM administrator can use the DSM console to set up or edit the maintenance policy for automatic software updates of the DSM plugin and data services.
Select Version & Upgrade from the left navigation pane, and click the DSM System tab.
In the Maintenance Policy pane, click EDIT.
The Maintenance Policy dialog box appears.
In the Maintenance Policy dialog box, set the following properties of the maintenance policy, and then click UPDATE.
Note: Date and time are specified only in UTC.
Property Description Start Date Enter the start date of the maintenance policy. Start Time Use the drop downs to enter the start time of the software update every day in hours and minutes. Duration Enter the duration to apply the software updates. If needed, include data services updates into the maintenance policy.
Click the Data Service tab, and navigate to the data service to upgrade.
Click the three-dot icon, and select Enable from the menu.
