VMware Validated Design supplies the prescriptive guidance to update and upgrade the SDDC management products according to an upgrade validation policy.

Updates That Are Validated by VMware Validated Design

VMware Validated Design follows a set of life cycle management principles for the SDDC.

Upgrade

Might impact the SDDC design and implementation. Ensures interoperability, and introduces new features, functionality, and bug fixes.

Update

Does not impact the SDDC design and implementation. Ensures interoperability, and introduces bug fixes.

Updates That Are Not Validated by VMware Validated Design

VMware makes available patches and releases to address critical security and functional issues for several products. Scalability and functional tests for individual patches, express patches, or hotfixes are not typically performed against a VMware Validated Design.

If a patch must be applied to your environment, follow the VMware published practices and VMware Knowledge Base articles for the specific patch. If an issue occurs during or after the process of applying a patch, contact VMware Technical Support.

If after applying a patch, the new product version no longer adheres to the bill of materials, or interrupts the upgrade to the next published version of the design, you must continue to follow the upgrade path to a version of the design that includes this product version.