If you enable a data service in full mode, you can set up automatic database upgrades and specify the maintenance window for the upgrades. You can also perform a manual upgrade for databases in full or limited preview mode.

For information about enablement modes for data services, see Activate Data Services in VMware Data Services Manager.

A database upgrade is a full upgrade that includes updates to anything that runs inside the workload cluster, such as a database engine, Operator, Kubernetes control plane, telegraf, and so on. VMware Data Services Manager does not support partial upgrades.

Note: When upgrading a database cluster, make sure that underlying ESXi hosts do not have active CPU or memory alarms. These alarms might indicate that the host does not have enough resources for workload cluster nodes. Address these alarms before performing the upgrade.

Automatically Upgrade a Database in VMware Data Services Manager

As a DSM administrator or DSM user, you can enable automatic upgrades by specifying the maintenance window for the upgrades.

During the specified window, the system addresses such items as CVEs and bug fixes. For a PostgreSQL database, the system also automatically upgrades the database engine to the latest supported minor version with the same major version. The engine of MySQL databases is never upgraded automatically. Only the management software is upgraded.

Note: A database with a data service version that is enabled in full mode is eligible for an automatic upgrade if its version is lower than the latest version of a data service. See Activate Data Services in VMware Data Services Manager.

Procedure

  1. In the DSM console, select Databases from the left navigation pane.
    This action displays the Databases view, a table that lists the provisioned databases.
  2. Examine the databases listed in the table, and navigate to the database.
  3. Click the database Instance Name.
    The database information Summary tab displays.
  4. Click the EDIT button in the Maintenance Window section, and set or update the following properties in the Edit Maintenance Window dialog box.
    Property Name Value
    Use Maintenance Window Use the slider to turn on or off automatic minor version upgrades.
    Day of the Week Use the dropdown menus to select the maintenance window day of the week. This is in the local time zone of the database server.
    Start Time Use the dropdown menus to select the time of day in which to start the maintenance window. This is as per the local time zone of the database server.
    Duration Enter the duration of the maintenance window.
  5. Click SAVE.
  6. Click the refresh icon on the top right corner of the pane to verify the change in the maintenance policy.

Manually Upgrade a Database in VMware Data Services Manager

When a new database version is available, you can perform a manual database upgrade.

Manual upgrades are available to all enabled data services, no matter whether they are in full or limited preview mode.

Note: VMware Data Services Manager does not support database engine upgrades to major versions.

After you perform the upgrade to a target version, you cannot revert back to an original version.

Procedure

  1. In the DSM console, select Databases from the left navigation pane.
    This action displays the Databases view, a table that lists the provisioned databases.
  2. Navigate to the database you want to upgrade.
    Make sure that the Upgrade Status column for the database displays Available.
  3. Click the database Instance Name.
    The database information Summary tab displays.
  4. In the Available Upgrade section, navigate to the target database version and click Upgrade Now.
    • With Postgres databases, only one target version is available.
    • With MySQL databases, you can select a target version from several versions. If you upgrade to the latest version, earlier versions will be cleared from the table.
  5. Confirm that you want to upgrade the database.

    VMware Data Services Manager generates a MODIFY DATABASE CLUSTER management operation.

Results

You cannot perform edit operations while the database upgrade is in progress.