How to perform a skip-level ESXi upgrade from VMware Cloud Foundation version 3.0.1.0 to version 3.5.0 directly

Products

• VMware Cloud Foundation

Issue/Introduction

This article provides instructions for upgrading VMware Cloud Foundation 3.0.1.0 directly to 3.5.0, bypassing the 3.0.1.1 version.

Environment

VMware Cloud Foundation 3.0.x
VMware Cloud Foundation 3.5.x

Resolution

1. In SDDC Manager, on the Repository-->Bundles page, download all 3.5.0.0 bundles.
2. SSH to the SDDC Manager VM as the vcf user and then switch to the root user by issuing the su - command.
3. Open the /opt/vmware/vcf/lcm/lcm-app/conf/application-prod.properties file with a text editor.
4. Find the line that reads:

lcm.core.enableManifestPolling=true

and change true to false.

5. Save and close the file.
6. Restart the lcm service by issuing the following command:

systemctl restart lcm

7. Remove references to the 3.0.1.1 bundle by issuing the following command

python /opt/vmware/vcf/lcm/lcm-app/bin/bundle_cleanup.py 74b0c98e-f980-4f87-9739-b59041b27d13 37e2b641-2a7e-461f-a0b4-80af73673857

8. Install the Cloud Foundation updates in the following order:
   1. VMware Cloud Foundation Update 3.5.0.0: MGMT domain

Note: You may need to repeat steps three through six after updating the MGMT domain. Inspect the contents of the /opt/vmware/vcf/lcm/lcm-app/conf/application-prod.properties file and update it per step four if necessary.

2. VMware Software Update 3.5.0.0 (VMware NSX Data Center for vSphere 6.4.4): All domains
3. VMware Software Update 3.5.0.0 (VMware vCenter Server 6.7 Update 1): All domains

 Note: The next update to be installed will be VMware Software Update 3.5.0.0 (VMware ESXi 6.7, Patch Release ESXi670-201811001) but it will not show as being available.

9. Open the /opt/vmware/vcf/lcm/lcm-app/conf/VersionAlias.yml with a text editor.
10. Add the following immediately after the versionAliases: line in the file:

    ESX_HOST:
        - base: 6.5.0-10719125
          alias:
              - 6.5.0-1017589

Note: Ensure that only spaces are used when editing VersionAlias.yml file as tab characters will break parsing and the LCM service may not start. Refer to commented examples in the file for a proper sample.

11. Save and close the file.
12. Restart the lcm service by issuing the following command:

systemctl restart lcm

13. Apply the VMware Software Update 3.5.0.0 (VMware ESXi 6.7, Patch Release ESXi670-201811001) update to all domains.
14. When all updates are completed, navigate to Administration-->Update Management and click the Update Credentials button. Enter the password and click the SAVE button.
15. Repeat steps three through six but change false to true.

Additional Information

VMware Cloud Foundation 3.5 Release Notes