Update existing Tanzu Kubernetes before upgrading to vSphere 8 Supervisor.

Upgrade Resources

In addition to this documentation, consult the following resources before upgrading your vSphere with Tanzu environment:
  • Official vSphere with Tanzu Support Policy
  • vSphere with Tanzu Release Notes
  • Tanzu Kubernetes releases Release Notes
  • Maintaining vSphere with Tanzu

Upgrade Overview

vSphere 8 Supervisor introduces a new Kubernetes controller for provisioning and managing the lifecycle of TKG clusters.

During the upgrade of vCenter Server to version 8, Supervisor components are updated. In addition, existing workload clusters are upgraded to the new controller in a rolling update fashion consistent with previous releases, summarized as follows:
  • All existing Tanzu Kubernetes clusters using the v1alpha2 API are migrated to the v1alpha3 API. Clusters not using the v1alpha2 API are not updated.
  • The underlying cluster representation is updated to use the new cluster class API representation.
  • The backing cluster object for each cluster is paused for reconciliation during the update. This means that during the update process any changes made to the cluster will not take effect until the update is complete.
  • During the update process, existing cluster objects are labeled "run.tanzu.vmware.com/migrate-tkc" to distinguish a cluster that is being updated.

Upgrade Compatibility Matrix

Before upgrading to vSphere 8, make sure that you upgrade your vSphere with Tanzu environment to at least the minimum component versions for upgrade. The latest available version is recommended.
Note: Upgrading from a legacy TKGS TKr to a TKG 2.0 TKr is allowed starting with the vSphere with Tanzu 8.0 MP1 release.
Component Minimum Version Before Upgrading to vSphere 8 Remarks

Tanzu Kubernetes Cluster (TKC)

1.21.x

The latest version is recommended.

Supervisor

1.21.0

The latest version is recommended.

vCenter and ESXi hosts

7.0 Update 3

The latest patch is recommended.

Pre-Upgrade Verification Tasks

Before upgrading your vSphere with Tanzu Kubernetes Grid environment to vSphere 8, perform the following pre-upgrade verification tasks.
Step Procedure
1

Verify that existing Tanzu Kubernetes clusters are using use the v1alpha2 API.

If a cluster is using the v1alpha1 API, update Supervisor and TKRs accordingly. Refer to the version 7 documentation for guidance.

Warning: An existing Tanzu Kubernetes cluster that is not using the v1alpha2 API will not be upgraded to the v1alpha3 API.
2

If necessary, upgrade existing Tanzu Kubernetes clusters to the minimum compatible TKR version for vSphere 8 upgrade. Refer to the compatibility matrix.

Warning: An existing Tanzu Kubernetes cluster that is not using the minimum compatible TKR version may become orphaned and inoperable on upgrade to vSphere 8.
3

If necessary, upgrade Supervisor to the minimum compatible version for vSphere 8 upgrade. Refer to the compatibility matrix.
4

If necessary, upgrade vCenter Server and participating ESXi hosts to the minimum compatible version for vSphere 8 upgrade. Refer to the compatibility matrix.

Upgrade Workflow

Use the following workflow to upgrade your vSphere with Tanzu Kubernetes Grid environment to vSphere 8.
Step Procedure
1

Complete pre-check upgrade verification tasks.
2

Upgrade to vSphere 8, including vCenter Server and participating ESXi hosts.

Refer to the vSphere 8 documentation for instructions.
3

Upgrade vSphere Namespaces Supervisor to the latest available versions.

Refer to the vSphere with Tanzu Upgrade Guide for instructions.
4

Upgrade Tanzu Kubernetes clusters to the minimum TKR version that includes new features and functionality.

Refer to the Tanzu Kubernetes releases Release Notes.