Introduction
VCF upgrades are crucial for staying aligned with VMware’s latest features and security updates. However, the process can be fraught with risks. This blog shares detailed experiences and solutions to overcome these challenges.
Key Upgrade Challenges
1. Bundle Validation Failures
Issue: Incorrect or corrupted upgrade bundles often cause failures during validation.
Example Scenario: A service provider downloaded an upgrade bundle from My VMware but failed to validate it during upload.
Solution:
- Validate SHA256 checksums of upgrade bundles.
- Use the SDDC Manager Upgrade Pre-Check Utility to identify potential issues.
2. Management Domain Downtime
Issue: Upgrading SDDC Manager sometimes leads to service disruptions.
Example Scenario: During an upgrade, a service provider lost connectivity to the vCenter Server in the management domain.
Solution:
- Perform comprehensive backups of vCenter and NSX-T Manager.
- Schedule upgrades during maintenance windows with minimal workload activity.
3. NSX-T Upgrade Failures
Issue: Data plane disruptions are common during NSX-T upgrades.
Solution:
- Always upgrade the NSX-T control plane and management plane first.
- Implement gradual node-by-node upgrades for seamless transitions.