For clusters enabled with VMware NSX®, you can use the regular ESXi upgrade workflow to migrate the NSX-managed Virtual Distributed Switches of the hosts to vCenter Server-managed vSphere Distributed Switches. By using host profiles, you can perform the upgrade and the host switch migration in an environment where all hosts are provisioned with Auto Deploy.

Starting with vSphere 7.0, the vSphere Distributed Switch supports the NSX functionality. Migrating your host switch to vSphere Distributed Switch 7.0 ensures optimal pNIC usage, and lets you manage the networking for your NSX hosts from vCenter Server.

Requirements

  • Verify that the ESXi hosts to upgrade are version 6.7 or later.
  • vCenter Server 7.0 Update 2
  • VMware NSX® 3.1.1

As a good practice, contact VMware support to assess the impact of migrating to vSphere Distributed Switch 7.0.

Workflow

  1. Upgrade vCenter Server to version 7.0 Update 2.

    For more information about upgrading vCenter Server, see the vSphere Upgrade documentation.

  2. Upload a software depot that contains an ESXi 7.0 Update 2 image. to vCenter Server.

    For more information, see the VMware ESXi Installation and Setup documentation.

  3. In NSX Manager, run the migration readiness pre-check, address any configuration issues, review the recommended topology, and create a vSphere Distributed Switch.
    Note: At this point, do not make any configuration changes to VMware NSX®.

    For more information about the steps you need to perform in NSX Manager, see "Migrate Host Switch to vSphere Distributed Switch" in the NSX Administration documentation.

  4. Create a new image rule or update the existing one with the uploaded ESXi 7.0 Update 2 image.

    For more information, see the VMware ESXi Installation and Setup documentation.

  5. Reboot the reference host.

    The reboot triggers the migration of the host switches from NSX Virtual Distributed Switches to vSphere Distributed Switches.

    After the reboot, the ESXi version on the reference host is upgraded to 7.0 Update 2. A new TNP with vSphere Distributed Switch is attached to the cluster.

  6. Update the host profile by copying the settings from the reference host.

    The updated host profile is configured with vSphere Distributed Switch instead of NSX Virtual Distributed Switch.

    For more information, see How Do You Copy Settings from a Reference Host to a vSphere Host Profile?.

  7. Reboot all ESXi hosts in the cluster.

    After the reboot, all hosts in the cluster use the new host profile, which is configured with vSphere Distributed Switch instead of NSX Virtual Distributed Switch.