Converting vLCM from baseline to image based from vCenter Server in an SDDC environment

Products

• VMware SDDC Manager / VCF Installer

Issue/Introduction

This article to is provide steps on how to convert a cluster from baselines to  vCenter Lifecycle Manager (vLCM) image based updates manually using vCenter directly instead of via SDDC or PowerShell script like below articles:

• Transition to vSphere Lifecycle Manager Images Using the PowerShell Script Menu-Driven Interface
• Transition to vSphere Lifecycle Manager Images Using the SDDC Manager API

Environment

• VMware vCenter Server 8.0.x
• VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2.x

Resolution

Attention: Ensure to have valid snapshots/backups completed of vCenter Server and SDDC Manager prior to applying steps. Keep in mind that, if vCenter Server is part of an Enhanced Linked Mode (ELM) replication setup, offline snapshots of all vCenter Servers in the replication setup are required. Refer to vCenter Server Appliance Data Integrity Best Practices for more information.

1. Start with manually converting vLCM from baseline to imaged based updates by applying the steps outlined in Convert a Cluster or a Host That Uses Baselines Into a Cluster or a Host That Uses vSphere Lifecycle Manager Images.
2. Afterwards set the cluster to imaged based in the SDDC Manager database DB following the below steps:
   1. Open an SSH connection to the SDDC manager
   2. Start psql:

      # psql -U postgres -h localhost

   3. Connect to the SDDC manager platform database:

      \c platform

   4. List the clusters:

      select * from cluster;

   5. Review the column "is_image_based" and identify cluster that was converted in step I.
   6. Note down the name of the cluster
   7. Using the names from step 5, update the table to state cluster is imaged based with true value 't' :

      update cluster set is_image_based='t' where name='<cluster_name>';

   8. Exit psql:

      \q

Note: When implementing this for a VxRail cluster, refer to VCF on VxRail: Enable vLCM Script for VCF VUM-to-vLCM Transition