Upgrade vSphere Distributed Switch prerequisites, validation checks, and process

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

When upgrading from vSphere from 7.0U3 to 8.0U3, according to KB 372863 Upgrade vCenter Server 7.0 to 8.0 it is necessary to upgrade the vSphere Distributed Switches to compatible versions first.

What are the necessary prerequisites, validation checks, and process to upgrade the vSphere Distributed Switches to a later version?

 

Note: vSphere Distributed Switch can be abbreviated as vDS or DVS interchangeably.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi

Resolution

Phase 1 - Resolve any alerts associated with the vSphere Distributed Switches first

• If you see the message "The vSphere Distributed Switch configuration on some hosts differed from that of the vCenter Server", this can be addressed using either of the following KBs:
  
  
  • KB 412915 The message "The vSphere Distributed Switch configuration on some hosts differed from that of the vCenter Server" is observed in the Summary area when viewing a vDS in the vCenter Networking icon view
    
    
  • KB 317901 The vSphere Distributed Switch configuration on some hosts differed from that of VMware vCenter- "Out of Sync"

Phase 2 - Upgrade all vSphere Distributed Switches (vDS) that are at version 6.5 to version 6.6

• Based on experience and per KB 324546 Known issues when upgrading a DVS from 6.5 or earlier to DVS 6.6 or later, we recommend upgrading all 6.5 to 6.6 first.
  
  
  • From the Host where the vCenter resides, power off the vCenter and take a cold (powered off) snapshot of the vCenter.
  • Power on the vCenter.
  • Change DRS to Manual in every cluster that contains even one ESXi host that is part of the subject vDS
  • Upgrade each version 6.5 vDS to 6.6 in the vCenter
  • Change DRS back to the setting it was, prior to the exercise, in every cluster that contains even one ESXi host that is part of the subject vDS
  • Validate the vDS networks are functioning correctly post-upgrade.
  • Delete the snapshot.

Phase 3: Upgrade vSphere Distributed Switches (vDS) from 6.6+ to 7.0.3

• Can be in the same maintenance window as 6.5 upgrade, but complete upgrade to 6.6 first

• • From the Host where the vCenter resides, power off the vCenter and take a cold (powered off) snapshot of the vCenter.
  • Power on the vCenter.
  • Change DRS to Manual in every cluster that contains even one ESXi host that is part of the subject vDS
  • Upgrade each vDS in the vCenter to version 7.0.3 (in one hop)
  • Change DRS back to the setting it was, prior to the exercise, in every cluster that contains even one ESXi host that is part of the subject vDS
  • Validate the vDS networks are functioning correctly post-upgrade.
  • Delete the snapshot.

Phase 4: Upgrade vCenter

Once all vCenters have all vSphere Distributed Switches at v7.0.3, then upgrade vCenter.