TKG upgrade version steps to reach 2.5.x when running an End of Service product version like 2.2.x with AVI LB topology

Products

• Tanzu Kubernetes Runtime
• Tanzu Kubernetes Grid
• VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid
• VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Management
• VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Plus
• VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Plus 1.x
• VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid 1.x

Issue/Introduction

Scenario:

• You are running an unsupported VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Management (TKGm) version, such as TKG 2.2.x.
  
  
• Your TKG environment is deployed using the NSX Advanced Load Balancer (AVI) topology.
  
  
• You referenced the Broadcom Product Lifecycle page and decide to upgrade to TKG 2.5.x.
  
  
• You must also upgrade TKG your AVI Load Balancer.
  
  
• Each TKG upgrade is a Minor-to-Minor version upgrade.  So this requires several TKG upgrades:

2.2.x -> 2.3.x

2.3.x -> 2.4.x

2.4.x -> 2.5.x

• This KB details the steps for upgrading both TKG and the required AVI versions and can be used as a reference for similar TKG with AVI upgrades.

Environment

TKG: 2.2.x

AVI:  22.1.2

Resolution

Upgrade TKG 2.2.x to 2.3.x:

Upgrade each Mgmt Cluster followed by its Workload Clusters.

 

1- Upgrade the TKG Mgmt Cluster from 2.2.x -> 2.3.x

Refer to the legacy doc pdf for TKG 2.3

NOTE: Refer to and make sure to follow all of the sections.  Especially:

-> Supported Upgrade Paths

-> Supported Kubernetes Versions (pg 26) (make sure you have the supported TKRs uploaded to vSphere)

-> Known Issues:  Read through them to avoid upgrade surprises. 

Upgrade

Packages

Networking

etc, etc

-> Upgrading Tanzu Kubernetes Grid

NOTE: Refer to and make sure to follow all of the sections.  Such as:

Prerequisites

Unset environment variables

Prepare to Upgrade Clusters

Upgrade Standalone Management Clusters

Upgrade Workload Clusters

Post-Upgrade Operations

Sync Package Versions Older Than n-2

-> Upgrade Standalone Management Clusters

NOTE: Refer to all sub-sections for prerequisites, Such as:

LDAP settings (if relevant to your env)

-> Upgrade Standalone Management Clusters

 

 

2 - Upgrade Workload Clusters from 2.2.x -> 2.3.x

Refer to the legacy doc pdf for TKG 2.3

NOTE: Refer to and make sure to follow all of the sections.  Especially:

-> Upgrade Workload Clusters (pg 399)

 

 

3 - Upgrade NSX ALB (AVI): 

Refer to the legacy doc pdf for TKG 2.3

NOTE: Refer to this page again:

-> Provider-Specific Post-Upgrade Operations (pg 389) (after Upgrading TKG Mgmt Cluster AND all Workload Clusters):

NOTE: This is where you Upgrade your NSX Advanced Load Balancer (AVI)

See Section: vSphere Upgrade NSX Advanced Load Balancer Configuration After Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Upgrade

"vSphere Upgrade NSX Advanced Load Balancer Configuration After Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Upgrade If NSX ALB was not enabled in your TKG v2.2 installation, see Install and Configure NSX Advanced Load Balancer for information on how to install NSX ALB. If NSX ALB was enabled in your TKG v2.2 installation, see the Tanzu Kubernetes Grid v2.3 Release Notes for which Avi Controller versions are supported in this release, and if needed upgrade the Avi Controller to a compatible version. For how to upgrade the Avi Controller, see Flexible Upgrades for Avi Vantage."

 

For more info: Refer to Tanzu Kubernetes Grid v2.3 Release Notes to determine AVI version compatibility:

 

 

 

 

Upgrade TKG 2.3.x to 2.4.x:

Upgrade each Mgmt Cluster followed by its Workload Clusters.

 

1- Upgrade each TKGm Mgmt Cluster from 2.3.x -> 2.4.x

NOTE: Refer to the Upgrading Tanzu Kubernetes Grid 2.4 parent documentation.

• • Follow the procedures in the TKG Management Cluster documentation:
    
    
    • Upgrade Standalone Management Clusters

NOTE: Follow any Prerequisites

 

 

2 - Upgrade Workload Clusters from 2.3.x -> 2.4.x

• • Follow the upgrade procedures TKG Workload Cluster 2.4 documentation:
    
    
    • Upgrade Workload Clusters

NOTE: Follow any Prerequisites

 

 

3 - Upgrade NSX ALB (AVI): 

• • Follow the steps in the following two sections of Upgrading Tanzu Kubernetes Grid 2.4 Documentation:

NOTE: Below are the AVI upgrade procedures and supported versions.

• • •  Post-Upgrade Operations section
      
      
    • Provider-Specific Post-Upgrade Operations section

 

 

 

 

Upgrade TKG 2.4.x to 2.5.x:

Upgrade each Mgmt Cluster followed by its Workload Clusters.

 

1- Upgrade each TKGm Mgmt Cluster from 2.4.x -> 2.5.x

NOTE: Refer to the Upgrading Tanzu Kubernetes Grid 2.5 parent documentation.

• • • Follow the procedures in the TKG Management Cluster documentation:
      
      
      • Upgrade Standalone Management Clusters

NOTE: Follow any Prerequisites

 

 

2- Upgrade Workload Clusters from 2.4.x -> 2.5.x

• • Follow the upgrade procedures TKG Workload Cluster 2.5 documentation:
    
    
    • Upgrade Workload Clusters

NOTE: Follow any Prerequisites

 

 

3- Upgrade NSX ALB (AVI): 

• • • Follow this step in the following two sections of Upgrading Tanzu Kubernetes Grid 2.5 Documentation:

NOTE: Below are the AVI upgrade procedures and supported versions.

• • • • Post-Upgrade Operations