The first component that the upgrade coordinator upgrades is the NSX Edge cluster nodes. Depending on how and when the NSX Edge nodes were deployed determines how they are upgraded.

Upgrade Process for Auto Deployed Edge Nodes

For auto deployed edge nodes managed by NSX Manager, the upgrade coordinator checks the edge node configuration settings and updates them if the settings do not match the standard values from the current NSX Data Center version.

When a NSX Data Center version introduces an improvement to the NSX Edge node configuration, that improvement only applies to NSX Edge nodes deployed after the upgrade. NSX Edge nodes deployed prior to the NSX Data Center upgrade are not automatically updated. You can use the upgrade coordinator to update auto deployed NSX Edge nodes to the latest configuration settings.

The upgrade workflow for auto deployed edge nodes is as follows:

  1. Upgrade bundle file is uploaded and prepared by the upgrade coordinator.
  2. Edge node is placed into maintenance mode.
  3. OS is downloaded to the edge node.
  4. OS is installed on the edge node.
  5. OS switch is performed on the edge node.
  6. Using vSphere APIs, the edge node virtual machine is powered off.
    Note: vCenter Server should be running and reachable during this workflow.
  7. As part of the upgrade for auto deployed edge nodes, the upgrade coordinator updates edge node virtual machine configuration parameters and the allocation of CPU cores and memory.
  8. The edge node virtual machine is powered on.
  9. Check for required reboot if there is a GRUB update, and if required, the OS is rebooted into the updated GRUB.
  10. Upgrade coordinator verifies edge node version.
  11. Edge node exits maintenance mode.

The following NSX Edge virtual machine configuration attributes are added or updated when an upgrade is initiated:

  • VMX file properties: 
       "ethernet0.ctxPerDev":"3",
   "ethernet1.ctxPerDev":"3",
   "ethernet2.ctxPerDev":"3",
   "ethernet3.ctxPerDev":"3",
   "ethernet4.ctxPerDev":"3",
   "ethernet0.udpRSS":"1",
   "ethernet1.udpRSS":"1",
   "ethernet2.udpRSS":"1",
   "ethernet3.udpRSS":"1",
   "ethernet4.udpRSS":"1",
   "ethernet0.pnicFeatures":"4",
   "ethernet1.pnicFeatures":"4",
   "ethernet2.pnicFeatures":"4",
   "ethernet3.pnicFeatures":"4",
   "ethernet4.pnicFeatures":"4",
   "featMask.vm.cpuid.PDPE1GB":"Val:1",
   "snapshot.maxSnapshots":"0"
  • OVF file property:
    "memoryReservationLockedToMax":"true"
  • CPU
  • Memory

For the allocation of CPU cores, memory, and storage, the upgrade coordinator changes the edge node values to match the standard form factor values.

Note: The edge node CPU core and memory values are only changed to match the form factor values if the existing edge node values are less than the form factor values. If the edge node values are greater than the form factor values, then no changes are made. Ensure that there are sufficient resources in the vSphere resource pool and cluster.
Table 1. Supported NSX Edge Form Factors for Upgrade
NSX Edge Form Factor Memory CPU Cores Disk Space
Small Form Factor 4 GB 2 200 GB
Medium Form Factor 8 GB 4 200 GB
Large Form Factor 32 GB 8 200 GB
Extra Large Form 64 GB 16 200 GB

The upgrade process for auto deployed edge nodes applies to the following upgrade paths:

  • Upgrading from NSX Data Center 3.1.x to NSX Data Center 4.0.
  • Upgrading from NSX Data Center 3.2.x to NSX Data Center 4.0.

Upgrade Process for Manually Deployed Edge Nodes and Bare Metal Edge Nodes

For manually deployed edge nodes and bare metal edge nodes, the upgrade coordinator only updates the OS and does not change the edge parameters or CPU core and memory values.

The upgrade workflow for manually deployed edge nodes and bare metal edge nodes is as follows:

  1. Upgrade bundle file is uploaded and prepared by the upgrade coordinator.
  2. Edge node is placed into maintenance mode.
  3. OS is downloaded to the edge node.
  4. OS is installed on the edge node.
  5. OS switch is performed on the edge node.
  6. Edge node reboots into the new OS.
  7. Upgrade coordinator verifies edge node version.
  8. Edge node exits maintenance mode.
Important: Before upgrading manually deployed edge nodes, it is important to set the VMX file property "featMask.vm.cpuid.PDPE1GB":"Val:1" of the edge node virtual machine in order to prevent upgrade failure.