Error: "No data available to upgrade" when attempting to upgrade vSphere 8.x licenses to 9.x.

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi
• VMware Cloud Foundation
• VMware vSphere Foundation
• VMware vCenter Server
• VCF Operations

Issue/Introduction

• Upgrading VMware vCenter or vSphere 8.x license keys to version 9.x in the Broadcom Support Portal returns the error: No data available to upgrade.
  
  
  

Environment

• VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.x
• VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF) 9.x
• Broadcom Support Portal

Cause

Broadcom has transitioned the licensing model for version 9.x products. Legacy 25-character license keys are no longer used for these versions. Licensing is now managed via subscription-based license files generated and applied through the VCF Business Service Console.

Resolution

The traditional license key upgrade path in the Broadcom Support Portal is not applicable for version 9.x. Follow these steps to license the environment:

1. Install VCF Operations and deploy a License Server.
2. Register the environment with the VCF Business Service Console.
3. Access the Business Service Console to generate the required license files for vCenter, ESXi, and other VCF components.
4. Apply the license files to the respective components within the VCF interface.

For detailed instructions on license management, refer to License Key Management for VMware Products.

Additional Information

• Licensing vCenter 9.x and ESXi 9.x in Air-gapped Environments
• Download Broadcom Products and Software
• Subscribe to a Broadcom knowledge article by article or productubs