Manual Upgrade Procedure for VMware Aria Operations from 8.18.3 to 8.18.5 via Admin UI

Products

• VMware Aria Operations (formerly vRealize Operations) 8.x

Issue/Introduction

This article provides the step-by-step workflow for performing a manual maintenance upgrade of a VMware Aria Operations cluster from version 8.18.3 to 8.18.5.

This process is applicable for standalone environments or those not currently managed by VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle.

Environment

VMware Aria Operations 8.18.x

Cause

Periodic maintenance updates are required to address security vulnerabilities, resolve known software defects, and ensure compatibility with the broader VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) ecosystem.

Resolution

1. Prerequisites

• • Compatibility Check: Verify the Broadcom Interoperability Matrix to ensure all management pack adapters (e.g., NSX, vCenter) are compatible with version 8.18.5.

  • Snapshots: Take an offline virtual machine-level snapshot of all cluster nodes (Primary, Replica, Data, and Cloud Proxies).

    • Note: Ensure "Snapshot the virtual machine's memory" is deselected.

  • Binaries: Download the following from the Broadcom Support Portal:

    • vRealize_Operations_Manager-VA-<version>-upgradepak.pak

    • vRealize_Operations_Manager-VA-Pre-Upgrade-Readiness-Assessment-Tool.pak

2. Run the Pre-Upgrade Readiness Assessment Tool (APUAT)

1. Log in to the Aria Operations Admin UI (https://<FQDN-or-IP>/admin) as the admin user.

2. Navigate to Software Update > Install a Software Update.

3. Upload the APUAT PAK file.

4. Review the generated report under Support > Support Bundles. Ensure no critical dashboards or metrics are flagged as "Broken" or "Deprecated" without a known replacement.

3. Install the Upgrade PAK

1. In the Admin UI, return to Software Update.

2. Click Install a Software Update.

3. Upload the 8.18.5 Upgrade PAK.

4. Configuration Options:

   • Select Install the PAK file even if it is already installed if prompted.

   • Select Reset Default Content only if you intend to overwrite any modifications made to factory-shipped alerts or dashboards.

5. Monitor the progress bar. The Admin UI will restart, and the cluster will automatically transition to Offline during the update and back to Online once finished.

4. Post-Upgrade Validation

1. Verify Version: Go to Help > About and confirm the build/version shows 8.18.5.

2. Cloud Proxies: Verify status under Administration > Cloud Proxies. They should auto-update once the primary cluster is stable.

3. Cleanup: Delete the VM snapshots after 24–48 hours of confirmed stability to prevent performance degradation

Additional Information

 

• Note: For automated lifecycle management, it is recommended to use VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle to manage the upgrade.

• Compatibility: Always verify the Product Interoperability Matrix before upgrading.