With the integration of VMware and Broadcom systems, the Avi Load Balancer customers will see changes related to:

Transition of VMware Customer Connect to Broadcom Support Portal

The VMware Customer Connect functionality is transitioning to the Broadcom Support Portal. With this, Avi Load Balancer, (formerly, NSX Advanced Load Balancer) product entitlements, licensing, and software downloads will be available here starting from May 06, 2024.

Action Required

You will soon receive an email from Broadcom requesting you to log in to the Broadcom Support Portal and generate a password. Please complete this task as soon as possible.

If you have not logged in to VMware Customer Connect between January 01, 2023 and April 30, 2024, please contact support using the instructions provided in the VMware Support Transition to Broadcom article.

Avi Load Balancer SKU Changes

Starting May 06, 2024, a new SKU for Avi Load Balancer will be introduced. This SKU can be used with the Avi Controller in both Disconnected mode, and Connected mode (with Avi Cloud Console) for new licenses. There is no separate SKU required for connecting to Avi Cloud Services.

Changes to Avi Load Balancer Deployments (Connected Mode)

In this mode, the Avi Load Balancer is connected to Avi Cloud Console. The following scenarios apply:

  • Customers have purchased Perpetual or Term SKUs, and have connected the Avi Controller to Avi Cloud Console for access to Case Management and/or Security Feeds.

  • Customers have purchased Avi Enterprise with Cloud Services SKUs, and connected the Avi Controller to Avi Cloud Console.

The following sections outline the key considerations for migrating existing deployments, implementing new deployments, and expanding current deployments in the connected mode.

Existing Avi Load Balancer in Connected Mode

Consider the following in case of already deployed Avi Load Balancer in connected mode:

  • Existing customer entitlements are being migrated from VMware Cloud Services Platform (CSP) to Broadcom. Customers should activate their login credentials on the Broadcom Support Portal upon receiving an activation link from Broadcom.

  • Due to the migration, a maintenance window is scheduled for Avi Cloud Console, from Saturday, May 4 2024, 8 AM PDT to Saturday, May 11 2024, 8 AM PDT.

  • During this maintenance window, the Controller will not be able to:

    • Communicate with the Avi Cloud Console

    • Leverage Avi Cloud Console features such as cenralized licensing, security feed updates, and unified inventory.

    • Data plane services will remain unaffected while the Controller operates in a disconnected state.

  • A Controller connected to the Avi Cloud Console must be re-registered with Avi Cloud Console, after the scheduled maintenance window. For more information, see

    Re-registering Avi Load Balancer Controller to Avi Cloud Console after migration of VMware systems to Broadcom.

Note:

  • The 7-day grace period for Controllers operating in the disconnected state has been temproarily extended to 90 days, to ensure uninterrupted operation of Service Engines while in a disconnected state, subject to license availability prior to disconnection.

  • You will be required to re-register the Controller for a second and final time at a future date, once all authentication systems have been migrated from VMware CSP to Broadcom Identity Providers. Further details regarding this will be communicated in the coming months.

New or Expand Existing Avi Load Balancer in Connected Mode

For deployments with Avi licenses purchased after May 06, 2024, follow the steps given below:

  1. Deploy a Controller if required, or use an existing Controller.

  2. Download the license key from the Broadcom Support Portal.

  3. Upload the license key to Avi Cloud Console.

  4. For a new Controller, ensure that the license tier selected is Enterprise with Cloud Services Tier, and register the Controller to Avi Cloud Console.

  5. For an existing Controller which is already connected to the Avi Cloud Console, no further action is required. The Controller will be able to use the additional licenses.

Changes to Avi Load Balancer Deployments (Disconnected Mode)

In a disconnected mode, the Avi Load Balancer operates without connecting to theAvi Cloud Console. The following scenarios apply to Avi Load Balancer operating in a disconnected mode:

  • Customers have purchased Perpetual or Term SKUs , and are not using Security Feeds through Avi Cloud Console.

  • Customers may have purchased Avi Cloud Services SKUs, but have opted to deploy Avi without connecting to Avi Cloud Console (by applying legacy yaml licenses).

  • Customers are using Avi Basic Edition or Avi Essentials Edition.

The following sections outline the key considerations for migrating existing deployments, implementing new deployments, and expanding current deployments in the disconnected mode.

Existing Avi Load Balancer in Disconnected Mode

Consider the following in case of an already deployed Avi Load Balancer in disconnected mode:

  1. Avi Load Balancer deployed in the disconnected mode will continue to function normally. There is no action required. Avi Load Balancer licenses will be available on Broadcom Support Portal instead of VMware Customer Connect.

  2. If you are using legacy (yaml) licenses, please retain a copy of these licenses. The legacy Avi portal will not be available from May 06, 2024.

  3. Licenses purchased after May 06, 2024 will be available on the Broadcom Support Portal.

  4. Licenses can be divided, or combined, to use on different Avi Controllers. This facility will also be available on the Broadcom Support Portal.

New or Expand Existing Avi Load Balancer in Disconnected Mode

For disconnected mode, the deployment process remains the same:

  1. Deploy a new Controller if required, or use an existing Controller.

  2. Download the License Key from the Broadcom Support Portal.

  3. From the Avi Load Balancer Controller UI, go to Administration > Licensing.

  4. In the LICENSING screen, ensure that Enterprise Tier is selected.

  5. Apply the License Key to the Controller.

Feature Changes in Avi Cloud Console

In addition to the above, the following Avi Cloud Console feature changes will occur starting from May 06, 2024:

Software Downloads

VMware customers will be able to download only the specific products they have entitlement to, based on SKUs they have purchased. Software will be available in the Broadcom Support portal.

Software download through the Avi Cloud Console will no longer be available.

Proactive Case Management

Proactive Case Management and show tech-support upload features will not be available via the Avi Cloud Console.

Case management will be available through the Broadcom Support portal.

Decommission of Legacy Avi Customer Portal

The legacy Avi portal will not be available, starting from May 06, 2024.

Action Required

Download your legacy, yaml-based Avi Enterprise or Avi Basic Edition licenses from the portal before May 06, 2024. These licenses will not be available on the Broadcom Support portal.

How to Contact Support

For support requests until May 5, 7:30 PM PDT, raise a case using VMware Customer Connect.

For support requests after transition of VMware Customer Connect, raise a case using Broadcom Support Portal.

For more details on the transition of VMware Customer Connect, see the VMware Support Transition to Broadcom KB article.