vSphere Client shows a View Updates message banner, stating "New vCenter server updates are available" despite no further patches being available for installed version

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• vCenter Server is on the latest update of the major version. Major versions are 6.5,6.7,7.0 and 8.0.
• A newer vCenter Server major version than currently running is available
• vSphere Client shows a View Updates message banner on top of its page, stating "New vCenter server updates are available":
  
• when clicking the [VIEW UPDATES] button in the banner, the Update Planner is shown, which only lists the next major version, while the vCenter is e.g. currently running with the latest patch for its version:

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 7.0.3

Cause

The View Updates banner informs about a newer version of vCenter Server being available. No matter if the available version is a minor update within the currently running major version, or a major upgrade to the next major version, if an upgrade or update is available, it will be reported based on the upgrade support matrix in https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/67077.

A click on "View Updates" in the banner navigates to the Update Planner page of the vSphere Client, which lists the next available update/patch or the next available major version upgrade, if the current vCenter Server version is already on the latest patch of its major version.

Resolution

This is working as intended.
VMware aims to keep customer on the available latest version of the products being used, to allow for the environment to be as secure and as stable as possible.
Therefore the vSphere Client does show the "View Updates" banner, as long as any kind of newer vCenter Version is available, independent on the newer version being an update or patch for the currently installed release or an upgrade to a newer major version of vCenter Server.