Aria Automation Upgrades on Cosmin.us

Upgrading Aria Automation to 8.18.1 Patch 1

Cosmin Trif — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 05:28:29 +0000

In this post, I will cover upgrading my 8.x Aria Automation appliance to version 8.18.1 Patch 1. As a prerequisite, we need to have Aria Suite Lifecycle upgraded to 8.18. Instructions can be found here. Note that the upgrade does not include the latest PSPACK containing the 8.18.1 Patch 1 Aria Automation release. Instructions for obtaining the PSPACK are available in here.

Note:

Following the VMware by Broadcom Day 2 transition on May 6, 2024, Customer Connect has been migrated to the Broadcom Support. This migration impacts the VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle as follows:

All Product Support Packs, along with product and patch binaries, will now need to be downloaded from the Broadcom Support Portal

Users must then manually map these into the VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle

VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle can be upgraded using “Check Online” method.

Product Support Packs are cumulative, incorporating all updates from previous product support packs as well as patches into the latest version.

Downloading the Patch Binaries

The Aria Automation Patch 1 binaries can be downloaded from here. In my case, it was VMware Aria Automation 8.18.1 .patch file (vrlcm-vra-8.18.1-8.18.1.36859.patch). Once downloaded, LCM supports local mappings. In my case, I uploaded the patch in /data/temp

Mapping the Patch in Aria Suite Lifecycle

To get started, go to VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle -> Lifecycle Operations -> Settings -> Binary Mapping.

Click on Add Patch Binaries under Patch Binaries.

Select the location for the patch and click on Discover.

You will see a list of discovered patches. Select what you need and click on Add.

This will create a request and start downloading the package. To view the progress, click on the Click Here hyperlink.

Wait for the mapping to complete.

Installing the Patch

After the download is complete, go to Environments -> View Details on the environment that includes Aria Automation.

Click on the Ellipsis -> Patches -> Install Patch.

An inventory sync is recommended if the environment has changed since LCM performed the last sync. Select the uploaded Patch and click Next to continue.

Running the Precheck

Select Run Precheck to make sure the upgrade is supported

Verify the report to make sure its free of errors and click Next

Completing the Installation

Review the Summary and click Install.

You will be taken to the progress screen where you can follow the progress.

The system will reboot, and once it’s back up, you will be on version 8.18.1 Patch 1. Since we are doing a upgrade, I strongly recommend clearing the cache before using the new Aria Automation version.

Upgrading VMware Aria Automation to 8.18

Cosmin Trif — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 15:49:13 +0000

In this post, I will cover upgrading my 8.x Aria Automation appliance to version 8.18. As a prerequisite, we need to have VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle upgraded to 8.18. Instructions can be found here.

Note:

Following the VMware by Broadcom Day 2 transition on May 6, 2024, Customer Connect has been migrated to the Broadcom Support. This migration impacts the VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle as follows:

All Product Support Packs, along with product and patch binaries, will now need to be downloaded from the Broadcom Support Portal

Users must then manually map these into the VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle

VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle can be upgraded using “Check Online” method.

Product Support Packs are cumulative, incorporating all updates from previous product support packs as well as patches into the latest version.

Downloading and Mapping the Binaries

The Aria Automation binaries can be downloaded from here. In my case, it was VMware Aria Automation 8.18.0 Update Repository (Prelude_VA-8.18.0.35770-24024333-updaterepo.iso). Once downloaded, LCM supports local or NFS mappings. In my case, I uploaded the binary in /data

To get started, go to VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle -> Lifecycle Operations -> Settings -> Binary Mapping.

Click on Add Binaries under Product Binaries.

Select the location for the ISO and click on Discover.

You will see a list of discovered binaries. Select what you need and click on Add.

This will create a request and start downloading the package. To view the progress, click on the Click Here hyperlink.

Click on the In Progress button to view the details.

Wait for the mapping to complete.

Starting the Upgrade

After the download is complete, go to Environments -> View Details on the environment that includes Aria Automation.

Click on Upgrade.

An inventory sync is recommended if the environment has changed since LCM performed the last sync. Trigger the sync from the UI or click on Proceed to continue.

Select product version 8.18 and click Next. You can also review the compatibility matrix to ensure the environment is compatible.

Snapshot Options

A new feature added is the capability to automatically create a snapshot prior to the upgrade and remove it after the upgrade. On this screen, you can choose to keep the snapshots post-upgrade for validation testing, as well as auto-revert options. Make the desired selection and click Next.

Running the Precheck

Run the precheck to ensure there are no errors.

The next screen reminds us of the hardware requirements for Aria Automation, which can also be checked here, and vIDM, which can be checked here. As far as I can tell, they haven’t changed since the 8.16 release. Check the I took care of the manual steps above and am ready to proceed checkbox and click Run Precheck.

Once the check is complete, review the checks that were performed and click Next.

Submitting and Monitoring the Upgrade

Review the upgrade details and click Submit. You will be taken to the progress screen where you can follow the progress.

You will be taken to the progress screen where you can follow the progress.

The system will get rebooted and once its back up we will be on 8.18

The system will reboot, and once it’s back up, you will be on version 8.18. Since we are doing a major upgrade, I strongly recommend clearing the cache before using the new Aria Automation version.

Upgrading Aria Automation to 8.18 via CLI: A Step-by-Step Guide

Cosmin Trif — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 03:05:04 +0000

Upgrading Aria Automation (formerly known as vRealize Automation, vRA) is crucial for maintaining the efficiency, security, and compatibility of your automation tasks. For environments without VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle, you can still perform the upgrade using the vracli command-line utility. If your environment does have Lifecycle Manager, I covered upgrading VMware Aria Automation to 8.18 through it in a separate guide. This blog post will guide you through the process of upgrading Aria Automation using two different methods: from a mounted ISO (CD-ROM) and from an online update repository URL.

Prerequisites

SSH access to your Aria Automation appliance.
Sufficient backup of your Aria Automation environment.
Downloaded ISO for the Aria Automation upgrade, if using the CD-ROM method. Link to the download
Access to the Aria Automation appliance with root privileges.
Check the health of the pods by running kubectl get pods -n prelude The upgrade will fail if any pods are in a non Running state.

Method 1: Upgrading from a Mounted ISO (CD-ROM)

Prepare the ISO Image: Before starting, ensure that the ISO image for the Aria Automation upgrade is downloaded and available.
Mount the ISO to the Appliance: Mount the ISO image to your Aria Automation appliance. This step might require physical access to the server or through the management interface provided by your hypervisor (e.g., ESXi). To mount the CD-ROM we can use:

mount /dev/sr0 /mnt/cdrom

SSH into the Aria Automation Appliance: Access your appliance via SSH as the root user.
Execute the Upgrade Command: Run the following command to start the upgrade process:

vracli upgrade exec -y --profile lcm --repo cdrom://

This command will automatically start the upgrade process using the ISO mounted on the CD-ROM drive. The -y flag automates the acceptance of the upgrade process, and --profile lcm specifies the use of the lifecycle manager upgrade profile, even though the Lifecycle Manager itself is not being used.
Monitor the Upgrade Process: The upgrade process will provide output to the console. Monitor this output for any errors or prompts that require manual intervention.
Use 'vracli upgrade status --follow' to monitor the progress.
Finalize the Upgrade: Once the upgrade completes, follow any on-screen instructions to finalize the upgrade. This may include rebooting the Aria Automation appliance.

Post-Upgrade Steps

Verify the Upgrade: Log in to the Aria Automation user interface to verify that the upgrade was successful and all services are running correctly.
Review Logs: Check the upgrade logs for any warnings or errors that might need attention.
Test Deployments: Execute a few test deployments to ensure that all functionalities are working as expected.

Conclusion

Upgrading Aria Automation without the Lifecycle Manager is straightforward with the vracli utility. Whether you’re upgrading from a mounted ISO or an online repository, the process is designed to be seamless. Always ensure that you have backups and a rollback plan in case of any issues. Once you are on 8.18, you can continue with Aria Automation 8.18.1 Patch 1.

Upgrading Aria Automation via CLI: A Step-by-Step Guide

Cosmin Trif — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 02:45:34 +0000

Upgrading Aria Automation (formerly known as vRealize Automation, vRA) is crucial for maintaining the efficiency, security, and compatibility of your automation tasks. For environments without VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle, you can still perform the upgrade using the vracli command-line utility. This blog post will guide you through the process of upgrading Aria Automation using two different methods: from a mounted ISO (CD-ROM) and from an online update repository URL.

Before You Begin

Prerequisites

SSH access to your Aria Automation appliance.
Sufficient backup of your Aria Automation environment.
Downloaded ISO for the Aria Automation upgrade, if using the CD-ROM method.
Access to the Aria Automation appliance with root privileges.

Upgrading from a Mounted ISO

Method 1: Upgrading from a Mounted ISO (CD-ROM)

Prepare the ISO Image: Before starting, ensure that the ISO image for the Aria Automation upgrade is downloaded and available.
Mount the ISO to the Appliance: Mount the ISO image to your Aria Automation appliance. This step might require physical access to the server or through the management interface provided by your hypervisor (e.g., ESXi). To mount the CD-ROM we can use:

mount /dev/sr0 /mnt/cdrom

SSH into the Aria Automation Appliance: Access your appliance via SSH as the root user.
Execute the Upgrade Command: Run the following command to start the upgrade process:

vracli upgrade exec -y --profile lcm --repo cdrom://

This command will automatically start the upgrade process using the ISO mounted on the CD-ROM drive. The -y flag automates the acceptance of the upgrade process, and --profile lcm specifies the use of the lifecycle manager upgrade profile, even though the Lifecycle Manager itself is not being used.
Monitor the Upgrade Process: The upgrade process will provide output to the console. Monitor this output for any errors or prompts that require manual intervention.
Use 'vracli upgrade status --follow' to monitor the progress.
Finalize the Upgrade: Once the upgrade completes, follow any on-screen instructions to finalize the upgrade. This may include rebooting the Aria Automation appliance.

Upgrading from an Online Repository

Method 2: Upgrading from an Online Update Repository URL

SSH into the Aria Automation Appliance: Ensure you have SSH access to the appliance as the root user.
Determine the Repository URL: Identify the URL of the update repository you intend to use for the upgrade. This URL should point to the VMware online repository or an internally hosted repository mirror.
Execute the Upgrade Command: Use the following command to initiate the upgrade from the online repository:

vracli upgrade exec --profile lcm -r <url>

Replace <url> with the actual URL of your update repository. Similar to the CD-ROM method, --profile lcm indicates the lifecycle manager upgrade profile.
Monitor the Upgrade Process: As with the ISO method, keep an eye on the console output for any actions required on your part.
Use 'vracli upgrade status --follow' to monitor the progress.
Complete the Upgrade: After the upgrade process finishes, perform any additional steps prompted by the system, which may include system reboots.

Post-Upgrade Verification

Post-Upgrade Steps

Verify the Upgrade: Log in to the Aria Automation user interface to verify that the upgrade was successful and all services are running correctly.
Review Logs: Check the upgrade logs for any warnings or errors that might need attention.
Test Deployments: Execute a few test deployments to ensure that all functionalities are working as expected.

Final Thoughts

Conclusion

Upgrading Aria Automation without the Lifecycle Manager is straightforward with the vracli utility. Whether you’re upgrading from a mounted ISO or an online repository, the process is designed to be seamless. Always ensure that you have backups and a rollback plan in case of any issues. For a version-specific walkthrough of this procedure, see upgrading Aria Automation to 8.18 via CLI.

Upgrading VMware Aria Automation to 8.16.2

Cosmin Trif — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 20:49:26 +0000

In this post I will go over upgrading my 8.x vRA appliance to 8.16.2. As a pre requirement we do need to have VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle upgraded to 8.16. Instructions can be found here. The upgrade does not include the latest PSPACK that contains the 8.16.2 VMware Aria Automation release. Instructions to get the PSPACK can be found on my other blog post here.

Downloading the Upgrade Binary via Binary Mapping

To get started we can go to VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle -> Lifecycle Operations -> Settings -> Binary Mapping. (If you haven’t added your My VMware credentials you will need to do that first by going to VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle -> Lifecycle Operations -> Settings -> My VMware)

Click on Add Binaries under Product Binaries

Select My VMware and click on Discover

We can see a list of binaries that have been discovered. We can select what we need and click on Add

This will create a request and start downloading the package. To view the progress we can click on the Click Here hyperlink

Click on the in Progress button to view the details ex:

We now have to wait for the download to complete

Starting the Upgrade from the Environment

After the download is complete we can go to Environments -> View Details on the environment that includes vRA

Click on Upgrade

An Inventory sync is recommended if the environment has changed since LCM performed the last sync. We trigger the sync from the UI or click on Proceed to continue

Selecting Version 8.16.2 and Snapshot Options

Select product Version 8.16.2 and click Next. We can also review the compatibility matrix to make sure the environment is compatible.

A new feature that was added was the capability to automatically create a snapshot prior to the upgrade and remove it after the upgrade. On this screen we also have the ability to chose if we want to keep the snapshots post upgrade for validation testing for example. Click next

Running the Precheck

Run the Precheck to make sure there are no errors

The next screen remind us of hardware requirements for vRA which can be checked here and vIDM which can be checked here. As far as I can tell they haven’t changed since the 8.3 release. Check the I took care of the manual steps above and am ready to proceed check mark and click on Run Precheck

Once the check is complete we can review the checks that were performed and we can continue by clicking Next.

Submitting and Completing the Upgrade

Review the upgrade details and click on Submit. We are taken to the progress screen where we can follow the progress.

The system will get rebooted and once its back up we will be on 8.16.2

Since we are doing a major upgrade I strongly recommend to clean the cache before using the new vRA version.

Upgrading Aria Automation without Lifecycle Manager: A Step-by-Step Guide

Cosmin Trif — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 13:51:19 +0000

Upgrading Aria Automation (formerly known as vRealize Automation, vRA) is crucial for maintaining the efficiency, security, and compatibility of your automation tasks. For environments without VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle, you can still perform the upgrade using the vracli command-line utility. This blog post will guide you through the process of upgrading Aria Automation using two different methods: from a mounted ISO (CD-ROM) and from an online update repository URL.

What You Need Before Upgrading

Prerequisites

SSH access to your Aria Automation appliance.
Sufficient backup of your Aria Automation environment.
Downloaded ISO for the Aria Automation upgrade, if using the CD-ROM method.
Access to the Aria Automation appliance with root privileges.

Upgrading from a Mounted ISO with vracli

Method 1: Upgrading from a Mounted ISO (CD-ROM)

Prepare the ISO Image: Before starting, ensure that the ISO image for the Aria Automation upgrade is downloaded and available.
Mount the ISO to the Appliance: Mount the ISO image to your Aria Automation appliance. This step might require physical access to the server or through the management interface provided by your hypervisor (e.g., ESXi). To mount the CD-ROM we can use:

mount /dev/sr0 /mnt/cdrom

SSH into the Aria Automation Appliance: Access your appliance via SSH as the root user.
Execute the Upgrade Command: Run the following command to start the upgrade process:

vracli upgrade exec -y --profile lcm --repo cdrom://

This command will automatically start the upgrade process using the ISO mounted on the CD-ROM drive. The -y flag automates the acceptance of the upgrade process, and --profile lcm specifies the use of the lifecycle manager upgrade profile, even though the Lifecycle Manager itself is not being used.
Monitor the Upgrade Process: The upgrade process will provide output to the console. Monitor this output for any errors or prompts that require manual intervention.
Use 'vracli upgrade status --follow' to monitor the progress.
Finalize the Upgrade: Once the upgrade completes, follow any on-screen instructions to finalize the upgrade. This may include rebooting the Aria Automation appliance.

Upgrading from an Online Repository URL

Method 2: Upgrading from an Online Update Repository URL

SSH into the Aria Automation Appliance: Ensure you have SSH access to the appliance as the root user.
Determine the Repository URL: Identify the URL of the update repository you intend to use for the upgrade. This URL should point to the VMware online repository or an internally hosted repository mirror.
Execute the Upgrade Command: Use the following command to initiate the upgrade from the online repository:

vracli upgrade exec --profile lcm -r <url>

Replace <url> with the actual URL of your update repository. Similar to the CD-ROM method, --profile lcm indicates the lifecycle manager upgrade profile.
Monitor the Upgrade Process: As with the ISO method, keep an eye on the console output for any actions required on your part.
Use 'vracli upgrade status --follow' to monitor the progress.
Complete the Upgrade: After the upgrade process finishes, perform any additional steps prompted by the system, which may include system reboots.

Verifying the Upgrade

Post-Upgrade Steps

Verify the Upgrade: Log in to the Aria Automation user interface to verify that the upgrade was successful and all services are running correctly.
Review Logs: Check the upgrade logs for any warnings or errors that might need attention.
Test Deployments: Execute a few test deployments to ensure that all functionalities are working as expected.

Final Thoughts

Conclusion

Upgrading Aria Automation without the Lifecycle Manager is straightforward with the vracli utility. Whether you’re upgrading from a mounted ISO or an online repository, the process is designed to be seamless. Always ensure that you have backups and a rollback plan in case of any issues. I also covered a release-specific run of this CLI method in upgrading Aria Automation to 8.18 via CLI.

Upgrading VMware Aria Automation to 8.14.1

Cosmin Trif — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 22:33:43 +0000

In this post I will go over upgrading my 8.x vRA appliance to 8.14.1. As a pre requirement we do need to have VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle upgraded to 8.14. Instructions can be found here. The upgrade does not include the latest PSPACK that contains the 8.14.1 VMware Aria Automation release. Instructions to get the PSPACK can be found on my other blog post here.

Downloading the 8.14.1 Upgrade Binaries

Click on Add Binaries under Product Binaries

Select My VMware and click on Discover

We can see a list of binaries that have been discovered. We can select what we need and click on Add

This will create a request and start downloading the package. To view the progress we can click on the Click Here hyperlink

Click on the in Progress button to view the details

We now have to wait for the download to complete

Starting the Upgrade from the Environment

After the download is complete we can go to Environments -> View Details on the environment that includes vRA

Click on Upgrade

An Inventory sync is recommended if the environment has changed since LCM performed the last sync. We trigger the sync from the UI or click on Proceed to continue

Selecting the Version and Snapshot Options

Select product Version 8.14.1 and click Next. We can also review the compatibility matrix to make sure the environment is compatible.

Running the Prechecks

Run the Precheck to make sure there are no errors

The next screen remind us of hardware requirements for vRA and vIDM which can be checked here for vRA and vIDM which can be checked here. As far as I can tell they haven’t changed since the 8.3 release. Check the I took care of the manual steps above and am ready to proceed check mark and click on Run Precheck

Once the check is complete we can review the checks that were performed and we can continue by clicking Next.

Completing the Upgrade

Review the upgrade details and click on Next. We are taken to the progress screen where we can follow the progress.

The system will get rebooted and once its back up we will be on 8.14.1

Since we are doing a major upgrade I strongly recommend to clean the cache before using the new vRA version.

Upgrading VMware Aria Automation to 8.14

Cosmin Trif — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 17:10:14 +0000

In this post I will go over upgrading my 8.x vRA appliance to 8.14. As a pre requirement we do need to have VMware Aria Suite Lifecycle upgraded to 8.14. Instructions can be found here. The upgrade already includes the latest Product Support Pack so an update to the Product Support Pack is not required.

Downloading the Upgrade Binaries

Click on Add Binaries under Product Binaries

Select My VMware and click on Discover

We can see a list of binaries that have been discovered. We can select what we need and click on Add

This will create a request and start downloading the package. To view the progress we can click on the Click Here hyperlink

Click on the in Progress button to view the details

We now have to wait for the download to complete

Starting the Upgrade from Environments

After the download is complete we can go to Environments -> View Details on the environment that includes vRA

Click on Upgrade

An Inventory sync is recommended if the environment has changed since LCM performed the last sync. We trigger the sync from the UI or click on Proceed to continue

Selecting Version 8.14 and Snapshot Options

Select product Version 8.14 and click Next. We can also review the compatibility matrix to make sure the environment is compatible.

Running the Prechecks

Run the Precheck to make sure there are no errors

Once the check is complete we can review the checks that were performed and we can continue by clicking Next.

Completing the Upgrade

Review the upgrade details and click on Next. We are taken to the progress screen where we can follow the progress.

The system will get rebooted and once its back up we will be on 8.14

Since we are doing a major upgrade I strongly recommend to clean the cache before using the new vRA version.

Upgrading vRA (vRealize Automation) to 8.9.1

Cosmin Trif — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 06:12:39 +0000

In this post I will go over upgrading my 8.x vRA appliance to 8.9. As a pre requirement we do need to have vRSLCM (vRealize Lifecycle Manager) upgraded to 8.8.2 Instructions can be found here. The upgrade doesn’t include the required Product support pack. Instructions on how to get the latest product support pack can be found here.

Downloading the 8.9.1 Upgrade Binaries

To get started we can go to vRealize Lifecycle Manager -> Lifecycle Operations -> Settings -> Binary Mapping. (If you haven’t added your My VMware credentials you will need to do that first by going to vRealize Lifecycle Manager -> Lifecycle Operations -> Settings -> My VMware)

Click on Add Binaries under Product Binaries

Select My VMware and click on Discover

We can see a list of binaries that have been discovered. We can select what we need and click on Add

This will create a request and start downloading the package. To view the progress we can click on the Click Here hyperlink

Click on the in Progress button to view the details

We now have to wait for the download to complete

Starting the Upgrade from the Environment

After the download is complete we can go to Environments -> View Details on the environment that includes vRA

Click on Upgrade

An Inventory sync is recommended if the environment has changed since LCM performed the last sync. We trigger the sync from the UI or click on Proceed to continue

Selecting the Version and Snapshot Options

Select product Version 8.9.1 and click Next. We can also review the compatibility matrix to make sure the environment is compatible.

Running the Prechecks

Run the Precheck to make sure there are no errors

Once the check is complete we can review the checks that were performed and we can continue by clicking Next.

Completing the Upgrade

Review the upgrade details and click on Next. We are taken to the progress screen where we can follow the progress.

The system will get rebooted and once its back up we will be on 8.9.1

Since we are doing a major upgrade I strongly recommend to clean the cache before using the new vRA version.

Upgrading vRA (vRealize Automation) to 8.9.0

Cosmin Trif — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 03:14:48 +0000

Downloading the vRA 8.9.0 Binaries

Click on Add Binaries under Product Binaries

Select My VMware and click on Discover

We can see a list of binaries that have been discovered. We can select what we need and click on Add

This will create a request and start downloading the package. To view the progress we can click on the Click Here hyperlink

Click on the in Progress button to view the details

We now have to wait for the download to complete

Starting the Upgrade from the Environment

After the download is complete we can go to Environments -> View Details on the environment that includes vRA

Click on Upgrade

An Inventory sync is recommended if the environment has changed since LCM performed the last sync. We trigger the sync from the UI or click on Proceed to continue

Selecting the Version and Snapshot Options

Select product Version 8.9.0 and click Next. We can also review the compatibility matrix to make sure the environment is compatible.

Prechecks and Manual Validations

Run the Precheck to make sure there are no errors

Once the check is complete we can review the checks that were performed and we can continue by clicking Next.

Completing the Upgrade

Review the upgrade details and click on Next. We are taken to the progress screen where we can follow the progress.

The system will get rebooted and once its back up we will be on 8.9.0

Since we are doing a major upgrade I strongly recommend to clean the cache before using the new vRA version.

Upgrading vRA (vRealize Automation) to 8.8.2

Cosmin Trif — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 22:21:24 +0000

In this post I will go over upgrading my 8.x vRA appliance to 8.8.2. As a pre requirement we do need to have vRSLCM (vRealize Lifecycle Manager) upgraded to 8.8.2 Instructions can be found here. The upgrade already includes the latest Product Support Pack so an update to the Product Support Pack is not required.

Mapping the Upgrade Binaries

Click on Add Binaries under Product Binaries

Select My VMware and click on Discover

We can see a list of binaries that have been discovered. We can select what we need and click on Add

This will create a request and start downloading the package. To view the progress we can click on the Click Here hyperlink

Click on the in Progress button to view the details

We now have to wait for the download to complete

Starting the Upgrade from the Environment

After the download is complete we can go to Environments -> View Details on the environment that includes vRA

Click on Upgrade

An Inventory sync is recommended if the environment has changed since LCM performed the last sync. We trigger the sync from the UI or click on Proceed to continue

Selecting Version 8.8.2

Select product Version 8.8.2 and click Next. We can also review the compatibility matrix to make sure the environment is compatible.

Configuring Snapshot Options

Running the Precheck

Run the Precheck to make sure there are no errors

Once the check is complete we can review the checks that were performed and we can continue by clicking Next.

Completing the Upgrade

Review the upgrade details and click on Next. We are taken to the progress screen where we can follow the progress.

The system will get rebooted and once its back up we will be on 8.8.2

Since we are doing a major upgrade I strongly recommend to clean the cache before using the new vRA version.

Upgrading vRA (vRealize Automation) to 8.8

Cosmin Trif — Mon, 16 May 2022 04:18:59 +0000

In this post I will go over upgrading my 8.x vRA appliance to 8.8. As a pre requirement we do need to have vRSLCM (vRealize Lifecycle Manager) upgraded to 8.78 Instructions can be found here. The upgrade already includes the latest Product Support Pack so an update to the Product Support Pack is not required.

Mapping and Downloading the vRA 8.8 Binaries

Click on Add Binaries under Product Binaries

Select My VMware and click on Discover

We can see a list of binaries that have been discovered. We can select what we need and click on Add

This will create a request and start downloading the package. To view the progress we can click on the Click Here hyperlink

Click on the in Progress button to view the details

We now have to wait for the download to complete

Starting the Upgrade from the Environment

After the download is complete we can go to Environments -> View Details on the environment that includes vRA

Click on Upgrade

An Inventory sync is recommended if the environment has changed since LCM performed the last sync. We trigger the sync from the UI or click on Proceed to continue

Selecting Version 8.8.0 and Snapshot Options

Select product Version 8.8.0 and click Next. We can also review the compatibility matrix to make sure the environment is compatible.

Anew feature that was added was the capability to automatically create a snapshot prior to the upgrade and remove it after the upgrade. On this screen we also have the ability to chose if we want to keep the snapshots post upgrade for validation testing for example. Click next

Running the Prechecks

Run the Precheck to make sure there are no errors

Once the check is complete we can review the checks that were performed and we can continue by clicking Next.

Completing the Upgrade

Review the upgrade details and click on Next. We are taken to the progress screen where we can follow the progress.

The system will get rebooted and once its back up we will be on 8.8

Since we are doing a major upgrade I strongly recommend to clean the cache before using the new vRA version.

Upgrading vRA (vRealize Automation) to 8.7

Cosmin Trif — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 16:57:17 +0000

In this post I will go over upgrading my 8.x vRA appliance to 8.7. As a pre requirement we do need to have vRSLCM (vRealize Lifecycle Manager) upgraded to 8.7. Instructions can be found here. The upgrade already includes the latest Product Support Pack so an update to the Product Support Pack is not required.

Adding the vRA 8.7 Upgrade Binaries

Click on Add Binaries under Product Binaries

Select My VMware and click on Discover

We can see a list of binaries that have been discovered. We can select what we need and click on Add

This will create a request and start downloading the package. To view the progress we can click on the Click Here hyperlink

Click on the in Progress button to view the details

We now have to wait for the download to complete

Starting the Upgrade from the Environment

After the download is complete we can go to Environments -> View Details on the environment that includes vRA

Click on Upgrade

Inventory Sync, Version, and Snapshot Options

An Inventory sync is recommended if the environment has changed since LCM performed the last sync. We trigger the sync from the UI or click on Proceed to continue

Select product Version 8.7.0 and click Next. We can also review the compatibility matrix to make sure the environment is compatible.

Anew feature that was added was the capability to automatically create a snapshot prior to the upgrade and remove it after the upgrade. On this screen we also have the ability to chose if we want to keep the snapshots post upgrade for validation testing for example. Click next

Running the Precheck

Run the Precheck to make sure there are no errors

Once the check is complete we can review the checks that were performed and we can continue by clicking Next.

Submitting and Monitoring the Upgrade

Review the upgrade details and click on Next. We are taken to the progress screen where we can follow the progress.

The system will get rebooted and once its back up we will be on 8.7

Since we are doing a major upgrade I strongly recommend to clean the cache before using the new vRA version.

Upgrading vRA (vRealize Automation) to 8.6

Cosmin Trif — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 17:56:35 +0000

In this post I will go over upgrading my 8.x vRA appliance to 8.6. As a pre requirement we do need to have vRSLCM (vRealize Lifecycle Manager) upgraded to 8.6. Instructions can be found here. The upgrade already includes the latest Product Support Pack so an update to the Product Support Pack is not required.

Downloading the Upgrade Binaries

Click on Add Binaries under Product Binaries

Select My VMware and click on Discover

We can see a list of binaries that have been discovered. We can select what we need and click on Add

This will create a request and start downloading the package. To view the progress we can click on the Click Here hyperlink

Click on the in Progress button to view the details

We now have to wait for the download to complete

Starting the Upgrade from Environments

After the download is complete we can go to Environments -> View Details on the environment that includes vRA

Click on Upgrade

An Inventory sync is recommended if the environment has changed since LCM performed the last sync. We trigger the sync from the UI or click on Proceed to continue

Version Selection and Snapshot Options

Select product Version 8.6.0 and click Next. We can also review the compatibility matrix to make sure the environment is compatible.

Anew feature that was added was the capability to automatically create a snapshot prior to the upgrade and remove it after the upgrade. On this screen we also have the ability to chose if we want to keep the snapshots post upgrade for validation testing for example. Click next

Running the Precheck

Run the Precheck to make sure there are no errors

Once the check is complete we can review the checks that were performed and we can continue by clicking Next.

Completing the Upgrade

Review the upgrade details and click on Next. We are taken to the progress screen where we can follow the progress.

The system will get rebooted and once its back up we will be on 8.6

Since we are doing a major upgrade I strongly recommend to clean the cache before using the new vRA version.

Upgrading vRA (vRealize Automation) to 8.5

Cosmin Trif — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 17:36:05 +0000

In this post I will go over upgrading my 8.x vRA appliance to 8.5. As a pre requirement we do need to have vRSLCM (vRealize Lifecycle Manager) upgraded to 8.4.1. Instructions can be found here. You will also need to apply the latest Product Support Pack (version 8.4.1.4). The instructions can be found here.

Downloading the vRA 8.5 Upgrade Binaries

Click on Add Binaries under Product Binaries

Select My VMware and click on Discover

We can see a list of binaries that have been discovered. We can select what we need and click on Add

This will create a request and start downloading the package. To view the progress we can click on the Click Here hyperlink

Click on the in Progress button to view the details

We now have to wait for the download to complete

Starting the Upgrade in vRSLCM

After the download is complete we can go to Environments -> View Details on the environment that includes vRA

Click on Upgrade

An Inventory sync is recommended if the environment has changed since LCM performed the last sync. We trigger the sync from the UI or click on Proceed to continue

Selecting the Target Version

Select product Version 8.4.0 and click Next. We can also review the compatibility matrix to make sure the environment is compatible.

Manual Validations and Precheck

Since we already checked the sizing while the download was occurring we can check the check box for I took care of the manual steps above and am ready to proceed and click on run precheck

Run the Precheck to make sure there are no errors

Upgrade Progress and Completion

Once the check is complete, click on Next. Review the upgrade details and click on Next. We are taken to the progress screen where we can follow the progress.

The system will get rebooted and once its back up we will be on 8.5

Upgrading vRA (vRealize Automation) to 8.4

Cosmin Trif — Wed, 19 May 2021 04:40:45 +0000

In this post I will go over upgrading my 8.x vRA appliance to 8.4. As a pre requirement we do need to have vRSLCM (vRealize Lifecycle Manager) upgraded to 8.4. Instructions can be found here

Adding the Upgrade Binary in vRSLCM

Click on Add Binaries under Product Binaries

Select My VMware and click on Discover

We can see a list of binaries that have been discovered. We can select what we need and click on Add

Downloading the Upgrade Package

This will create a request and start downloading the package. To view the progress we can click on the Click Here hyperlink

Click on the in Progress button to view the details

We now have to wait for the download to complete

While the download is going check hardware requirements for vRealize Automation 8.4.0 here. If the VMware Identity Manager hardware needs to be resized refer to the documentation: Re-Size Hardware Resources for VMware Identity Manager

Starting the Upgrade from the Environment

After the download is complete we can go to Environments -> View Details on the environment that includes vRA

Click on Upgrade

An Inventory sync is recommended if the environment has changed since LCM performed the last sync. We trigger the sync from the UI or click on Proceed to continue

Selecting the Target Version

Select product Version 8.4.0 and click Next. We can also review the compatibility matrix to make sure the environment is compatible.

Running the Precheck and Completing the Upgrade

Since we already checked the sizing while the download was occurring we can check the check box for I took care of the manual steps above and am ready to proceed and click on run precheck

Run the Precheck to make sure there are no errors

Once the check is complete, click on Next. Review the upgrade details and click on Next. We are taken to the progress screen where we can follow the progress.

The system will get rebooted and once its back up we will be on 8.4

Upgrading vRA (vRealize Automation) to 8.3

Cosmin Trif — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 18:30:44 +0000

In this post I will go over upgrading my 8.2 vRA appliance to 8.3. As a pre requirement we do need to have vRSLCM (vRealize Lifecycle Manager) upgraded to 8.3. Instructions can be found here

Downloading the vRA 8.3 Binaries

Click on Add Binaries under Product Binaries

Select My VMware and click on Discover

We can see a list of binaries that have been discovered. We can select what we need and click on Add

This will create a request and start downloading the package. To view the progress we can click on the Click Here hyperlink

Click on the in Progress button to view the details

We now have to wait for the download to complete

Starting the Upgrade from the Environment

After the download is complete we can go to Environments -> View Details on the environment that includes vRA

Click on Upgrade

An Inventory sync is recommended if the environment has changed since LCM performed the last sync. We trigger the sync from the UI or click on Proceed to continue

Selecting Version 8.3.0

Select product Version 8.3.0 and click Next. We can also review the compatibility matrix to make sure the environment is compatible.

Running the Precheck

Run the Precheck to make sure there are no errors

Completing the Upgrade

Once the check is complete, click on Next. Review the upgrade details and click on Next. We are taken to the progress screen where we can follow the progress.

The system will get rebooted and once its back up we will be on 8.3