How to update VMware Cloud Foundation to prevent unassigned hosts from needing to be re-upgraded after a workload domain deletion

Products

• VMware Cloud Foundation

Issue/Introduction

This article provides instructions for modifying VMware Cloud Foundation 2.3.1/2.3.2.x to prevent an unassigned host that has been upgraded from needing to be upgraded again after a workload domain is deleted.

Symptoms:

• An unassigned host has been upgraded to allow it to be added to a workload domain.
• When the workload domain is deleted, the host version is reverted to the one at which it was imaged (pre-upgrade).
• The unassigned host must be upgraded again prior to inclusion in a new workload domain.

Environment

VMware Cloud Foundation 2.3.x

Resolution

1. Download the attached 59337_vcf-unassigned-hosts.zip file.
2. Use a file transfer utility to copy the 59337_vcf-unassigned-hosts.zip file to the /tmp folder on the SDDC Manager Controller virtual machine.
3. Log in to the SDDC Controller VM as the root user.
4. Issue the following commands to create a backup of the current sos utility and then update the sos utility:

cp -rfp /opt/vmware/sddc-support /opt/vmware/sddc-support.$(date +%m%d%y)
unzip -d /tmp/ /tmp/59337_vcf-unassigned-hosts.zip
cd /tmp/vcf-unassigned-hosts
chmod +x setup.sh
./setup.sh

Note: You will see output similar to the following:

Start compiling all py files ...
Removing all py files ...
Copying files to SOS directory
Setup completed successfully

5. Issue the /opt/vmware/sddc-support/sos --upgrade-unassigned-host command to upgrade the host to the desired version.

Note: You can view the progress of the upgrade on the Lifecycle page of the SDDC Manager UI. Multiple unassigned host upgrades can be scheduled at the same time. They will run sequentially in the UI.

6. Issue the /opt/vmware/sddc-support/sos --config-bundle-backup to create a new bootbank and configuration backup for the host(s) upgraded in Step 5:

Note: You will see output similar to the following:

 

Welcome to Supportability and Serviceability(SoS) utility!
NOTE : SoS may fail if workflow is undergoing password rotation operation, run SoS when no workflows are in flight.

Logs : /var/tmp/unassigned-host-lcm
+-----+------+------------+----------------+---------------+-----------------+
| SL# | NODE | Rack Name  |  Domain Name   |  Base Version | Current Version |
+-----+------+------------+----------------+---------------+-----------------+
|  1  | R1N3 | gss-vxrack |      MGMT      | 6.5.0-7967591 |  6.5.0-9298722  |
|  2  | R1N2 | gss-vxrack |      MGMT      | 6.5.0-7967591 |  6.5.0-9298722  |
|  3  | R1N1 | gss-vxrack |      MGMT      | 6.5.0-7967591 |  6.5.0-9298722  |
|  4  | R1N0 | gss-vxrack |      MGMT      | 6.5.0-7967591 |  6.5.0-9298722  |
|  5  | R1N5 | gss-vxrack | - UNASSIGNED - | 6.5.0-7967591 |  6.5.0-9298722  |
|  6  | R1N4 | gss-vxrack | - UNASSIGNED - | 6.5.0-7967591 |  6.5.0-9298722  |
|  7  | R1N7 | gss-vxrack | - UNASSIGNED - | 6.5.0-7967591 |  6.5.0-9298722  |
|  8  | R1N6 | gss-vxrack | - UNASSIGNED - | 6.5.0-7967591 |  6.5.0-9298722  |
+-----+------+------------+----------------+---------------+-----------------+

Select ESXi for Config backup, ESXi : R1N5

        * Backup ESXi Config Bundle : R1N5

        * Creating state backup...

        * Remove existing backup for ESXi : R1N5

        * Uploading bootbank and state backup...


Logs : /var/tmp/unassigned-host-lcm
Log file : /var/tmp/unassigned-host-lcm/sos.log
 

Notes:

• This entire process can be used for hosts returned to the unassigned pool after a workload domain is deleted.
• Repeat Step 6 for all unassigned hosts that have been upgraded

 

Additional Information

If vSphere updates are applied after this process is implemented, it may be necessary to go through it again as the hosts in a workload domain that are deleted will be reverted to the version they were at prior to being added to a workload domain.