You use the Image Builder service to inject the NSX for vSphere VIBs from NSX Manager 6.4.4 to create a streamlined ESXi image per cluster. You then use these images to upgrade the ESXi hosts of the shared edge and compute clusters in Region A and Region B. This method removes additional configuration of the ESXi hosts for the NSX Manager and enables vSphere Update Manager to automate the cluster-wide ESXi hosts upgrade.

Table 1. ESXi Custom Images for the Shared Edge and Compute Clusters in Region A and Region B

Region

NSX Manager

NSX Manager IP Address

VIBs URL

vCenter Server

ESXi Image

Region A

sfo01w01nsx01

172.16.11.66

https://sfo01w01nsx01.sfo01.rainpole.local/bin/vdn/vibs-6.4.4/6.7-11070622/vxlan.zip

sfo01w01vc01.sfo01.rainpole.local

VVD ESXi 6.7 Update 1 with NSX 6.4.4 VIBs W01-REG-A.iso

Region B

lax01w01nsx01

172.17.11.66

https://lax01w01nsx01.lax01.rainpole.local/bin/vdn/vibs-6.4.4/6.7-11070622/vxlan.zip

lax01w01vc01.lax01.rainpole.local

VVD ESXi 6.7 Update 1 with NSX 6.4.4 VIBs W01-REG-B.iso

Prerequisites

  • Download the NSX for vSphere VIBs from the NSX Manager in for the shared edge and compute cluster to your local filesystem by opening a Web browser and navigating to https://sfo01w01nsx01.sfo01.rainpole.local/bin/vdn/vibs-6.4.4/6.7-build_number/vxlan.zip.

Procedure

  1. Log in to the Compute vCenter Server by using the vSphere Client.
    1. Open a Web browser and go to https://sfo01w01vc01.sfo01.rainpole.local/ui.
    2. Log in by using the following credentials.
      Setting Value
      User name administrator@vsphere.local
      Password vsphere_admin_password
  2. Start the Image Builder service on vCenter Server.
    1. From the Home menu of the vSphere Web Client, click Administration.
    2. Select System Configuration > Nodes.
    3. Under Nodes, click sfo01w01vc01.sfo01.rainpole.local and click the Related Objects tab.
    4. Click ImageBuilder Service and click Start.
  3. Log out and log back in to the vSphere Web Client to reload the Image Builder plug-in.
  4. Create an image depot for the VMware Validated Design ESXi image.
    1. From the Home menu of the vSphere Web Client, click Auto Deploy.
    2. In the Auto Deploy pane, from the vCenter Server drop-down menu, select sfo01w01vc01.sfo01.rainpole.local, and click the Software Depots tab.
    3. Click the Add Software Depot icon, in the Add Software Depot dialog box, configure the following settings, and click OK.

      Setting

      Value

      Select the type of depot you want to create

      Custom Depot

      Name

      VVD ESXi 6.7 Update 1 Upgrade

  5. Upload the NSX for vSphere 6.4.4 VIBs to the Image Builder.
    1. On the Software Depots tab, click the Import Software Depot icon.
    2. In the Import Software Depot dialog box, click Browse, locate the vxlan.zip on your filesystem, and configure the following settings.

      Setting

      Value

      Name

      NSX 6.4.4 VIBs

      File

      vxlan.zip

    3. Click Upload and after the upload is completed, click Close.
  6. Upload the ESXi 6.7 Update 1 image to the Image Builder.
    1. On the Software Depots tab, click on the Import Software Depot icon.
    2. In the Import Software Depot dialog box, click Browse and locate the ESXi 6.7 Update 1 customized image (.zip archive) file.

      Setting

      Value

      Name

      ESXi 6.7 Update 1

      File

      ESXi 6.7 Update 1 customized image for the shared edge and compute cluster in Region A (.zip archive)

    3. Click Upload and after the upload is completed, click Close.
  7. Create a slipstreamed ESXi 6.7 Update 1 image with the NSX for vSphere VIBs.
    1. In the left Software Depots pane, click ESXi 6.7 Update 1.
    2. In the right Software Depots pane, click ESXi-6.7U1-<Release Date>-standard, and click the Clone Image Profile icon.
    3. In the Clone Image Profile wizard, follow the prompts and configure the following setting.

      Clone Image Profile Wizard Page

      Setting

      Value

      Name and details

      Name

      VVD ESXi 6.7 Update 1 with NSX 6.4.4 VIBs W01-REG-A

      Vendor

      VMware Validated Design

      Description

      VMware Validated Design 5.0 upgrade ISO for ESXi 6.7 Update 1 with NSX 6.4.4 VIBs for the shared edge and compute cluster in Region A

      Software depot

      VVD ESXi 6.7 Update 1 Upgrade

      All VIBs in the software depot

      Acceptance Level

      Default value

      Software depot

      NSX 6.4.4 VIBs

      Available

      All VIBs in the software depot

      Ready to complete

      -

      -

  8. Export the ESXi 6.7 Upadte 1 image with NSX 6.4.4 VIBs.
    1. From the Home menu of the vSphere Web Client, click Auto Deploy.
    2. In the Auto Deploy pane, click the Software Depots tab.
    3. In the left Software Depots pane, click the VVD ESXi 6.7 Update 1 Upgrade depot.
    4. In the right Software Depots pane, right-click VVD ESXi 6.7 Update 1 with NSX 6.4.4 VIBs W01-REG-A and click Export Image Profile.
    5. In the Export Image Profile dialog box, select ISO - Generate a bootable ISO image from the image profile and click Generate Image.
    6. After the image is generated, click Download Image.

      The VVD ESXi 6.7 Update 1 with NSX 6.4.4 VIBs W01-REG-A.iso file is downloaded to your local filesystem.

  9. Repeat this procedure for the shared edge and compute cluster in Region B.