Limitations of vCenter Enhance Linked Mode for mixed versions of vCenter 7.x & 8.x during upgrade to VCF 5.x

Products

• VMware Cloud Foundation

Issue/Introduction

• vCenter UI shows warning message/banner : "Your environment is now in mixed mode. It is recommended you update your linked vCenter Servers to the same version".

• This mode is essential for VCF customers since upgrading from VCF 4.3.x/4.4.x/4.5.x to 5.x can take time. 

Environment

• VMware Cloud Foundation 4.0.x
• VMware Cloud Foundation 5.0

Resolution

Limitations:

During the upgrade process from VCF 4.3.x/4.4.x/4.5.x to VCF 5.x, the vCenter versions will be in mixed mode.

The following functionalities will be limited or not supported:

• Single Pane of Glass (SPOG) – Single Pane of Glass to view all the vCenter versions will be available on the highest version vCenter in the environment during the upgrade process.
• Add/Delete WLD of 4.3.x/4.4.x/4.5.x and 5.x will not be supported during the upgrade process.
• Recommendation to backup VCs after every VC upgrade or VC patch application.
• Do not run parallel upgrades if Enhanced linked mode is enabled.