vCenter 8 Essentials Plus Upgrade Fails Due to Missing VDS Entitlement

Products

• VMware SDDC Manager / VCF Installer

Issue/Introduction

When attempting to upgrade a vCenter Server environment from an Essentials Plus license to VCF 9.1, the import workflow fails. ESXi 8 Essentials Plus hosts are reported as incompatible because the current vSphere 8 license does not include Distributed Virtual Switch (VDS) features. VCF 9.1 guardrails strictly dictate that the vCenter must be connected to a DVS in order to successfully import.

Environment

VCF 9.1.x

Cause

The existing vSphere 8 Essentials Plus license is a discontinued perpetual model that does not include the Distributed Virtual Switch (VDS) and DRS entitlements required to satisfy VCF 9.1 convergence prerequisites. Furthermore, version 9+ VCF subscription licenses cannot be applied to legacy version 8.x hosts.

Resolution

1. Upgrade the vCenter Server to version 9.1.x
2. Upgrade the ESXi hosts to version 9.1.x.
3. Utilize the 90-day evaluation mode that is automatically enabled once the components are upgraded to the 9.1.x branch.
4. Deploy VCF Operations.
5. Deploy the License Server
   1. Deploy License Server
   2. Register VCF Operations and Your License Server in Connected Mode
   3. Add a License to VCF Operations and License Server
6. Register the vCenter Server with VCF Operations.
   
   Note: This process will take atleast 15 to 20mins.
   
   
7. Assign the valid subscription license.
8. Create the required Distributed Virtual Switch (DVS) and necessary port groups. Refer : Setting Up Networking with vSphere Distributed Switches
9. Add Hosts to a vSphere Distributed Switch
10. Change the vCenter Server VM network to DVS managed VM management network portgroup.
11. Use the VCF 9.1.x Installer to deploy the VCF Fleet.