The HCX update is applied to the HCX Manager systems first.

It is a best practice to create a backup prior to upgrading HCX Manager. See Backing Up and Restoring the System. This back up option may not be available in some Public Clouds where HCX is managed by the cloud service provider.

In addition to backing up HCX Manager, optionally use the vSphere snapshot feature to take a snapshot of the HCX Manager at the source and the destination sites. If necessary, you can use snapshots to roll back the HCX Manager version. See Rolling Back an Upgrade Using Snapshots.

Important: Starting with HCX 4.4.0, HCX appliances install the VMware Photon Operating System. When upgrading to HCX 4.4.x from an HCX version prior to 4.4.0 version, you must upgrade all Service Mesh appliances.
Important: Starting with HCX 4.4.0, HCX appliances install the VMware Photon Operating System. When upgrading to HCX 4.4.x from an HCX version prior to 4.4.0, DNS resolution might fail when using the (.local) domain in FQDN. For resolution, refer to VMware KB 90082.
Important: With the HCX release 4.3.0 database transition to PostgreSQL, an upgrade reversal procedure is available, if necessary. For this release, use the upgrade reversal procedure as the primary option for restoration instead of Backup and Restore, or vSphere snapshots. Refer to KB 87041.

Prerequisites

  • Verify the HCX Manager system reports healthy connections to:
    • vCenter Server.
    • NSX Manager (if applicable).

  • Verify that the HCX Manager reports that there are healthy connections to the HCX Interconnect service components.

  • Verify that Site Pair configurations are healthy.

Procedure

  1. Open the HCX Manager Service UI.
    Note:

    You can update site-paired HCX Managers simultaneously.

  2. Navigate to the Administration tab.
  3. Navigate to the System Updates section.
  4. In the Local HCX section, under Available Service Update Versions, click Check for Updates.

    In normal operation, the HCX automatically receives the latest service update. But if the HCX is offline or unable to access the Internet when a service update is pushed out, the HCX can miss the update. This selection checks for the latest version and adds it to your available service updates.

  5. Right-click the available version link and select one of the operations from the drop-down menu.

    If Service Updates have not been installed for more than one release, older updates are displayed. The newest updates are on the top.

    Option Description

    Download.

    The upgrade file is downloaded, but not installed.

    Upgrade.

    The file previously downloaded is used during the upgrade. If there is no file available, the option is dimmed.

    Download & Upgrade.

    The upgrade file is downloaded. The upgrade begins immediately after the download completes.

    Release Notes.

    View the Release Notes.
  6. To begin the selected process, click OK.

    The system reports that the upgrade is underway. After the upgrade file is downloaded and installed. The HCX system reboots. Allow a few minutes for the system to reinitialize.

  7. Open the HCX Appliance management interface in a browser tab.

    This option might not be available in HCX activated Public Clouds.

    https://hcx-ip-or-fqdn:9443.

  8. Navigate to the dashboard and verify the registered systems display a healthy connected state.
  9. Open the System Updates interface and confirm that Current Version is updated.

Results

With the HCX Managers upgraded, the HCX Service Mesh reflects that an update is available.

The HCX Managers apply the updates, reboot, and become operational in less than five minutes after rebooting. If the HCX Manager does not return to service within that time frame, contact VMware Support.