With the release of of VCF 4.4.1 I wanted to get my lab upgraded. The release blog can be found here and the release notes are here

Downloading the VCF 4.4.1 Bundle

In order to get to 4.4.1.0 in the past we had to upgrade to each version incrementally. As per the documentation found here we can now upgrade from any release past 4.1.0.1 directly to 4.4.1 skipping the releases in between. We can do so by going to Repository -> Bundle management -> Download now.

Bundle Management page with details about VMware Cloud Foundation updates for version 4.4.0.0, including download statuses and availability.

Alternatively if we are on 4.4.1.0 it can be found under Lifecycle Management -> Bundle Management -> Download now

VMware Cloud Foundation Update 4.4.1.0 available for download under Lifecycle Management.

We can also download it directly from the domain by going to Inventory -> Workload Domains -> Select the domain -> Update/Patches -> Select the VCF version -> Download now

Applying the VCF 4.4.1.0 Update

The next step is to upgrade VCF by going to Inventory -> Workload Domains -> Select the workload domain -> Update/Patches -> Select the cloud foundation version were upgrading to and click on Update Now for the VMware Cloud Foundation Update 4.4.1.0

“Update/Patches” step for upgrading VMware Cloud Foundation to version 4.4.1.0.

Next we are taken to the Upgrade page where we can follow the upgrade for each one of the components

Upgrading VMware Cloud Foundation, showing progress and queue status.

Once the upgrade is complete we can click Finish to be returned back to the main screen

Because we are changing the SDDC-Manager versions I would strongly recommend to clear cache and log back in before going forward.

Installing the Configuration Drift Bundle

Next step is to download and install the configuration drift package. We can find it under Lifecycle management -> Bundle management -> Download now

VMware Cloud Foundation Update 4.4.1.0 available for download.

We can also download it directly from the domain by going to Inventory -> Workload Domains -> Select the domain -> Update/Patches -> Select the VCF version -> Download now

Domain update options, including precheck, scheduled updates, and download for VCF 4.4.1.

Once the download is complete go to Inventory -> Workload Domains -> Select the domain -> Update/Patches -> Select the VCF version and click on update now

Update VCF 4.4.1.0 now or schedule later via UI.

We can view the upgrade process by clicking on view status

VMware Cloud Foundation Update 4.4.0.0 and In-Progress Update #1. Updating VMware Cloud Foundation 4.4.0.0, showing progress and status.

Upgrading NSX-T Edge Clusters

Next step is to upgrade NSX-T installation to NSX-T 3.1.3.7.4. The release notes can be found here. We can go to inventory -> Workload Domains -> Select the workload domain -> Update/Patches -> Under Available updates click on the drop down and select Cloud Foundation 4.4.1.0 -> Download now.

Cloud Foundation 4.4.1.0 update available for NSX-T 3.1.3.7.4; download now or schedule.

Once the download is complete we can proceed with updating the NSX components by clicking on the update now

Update screen for Cloud Foundation 4.4.1.0 with options to schedule or update now.

Make the proper selection and click next

NSX Edge Clusters upgrade selection for VCF 4.x to 4.4.1.

Make the proper selection and click next

Host Clusters upgrade step; select clusters or all; warning: upgrade edge clusters first.

Make the proper selection and click next

Upgrade Options screen for VCF 4.x to 4.4.1 upgrade. Select upgrade settings and click Next.

Review the options and click on Finish

Review page for NSX Edge and Host Clusters upgrade options; click Finish to proceed.

The upgrade will go through upgrading the NSX edges. We can view the upgrade status by clicking on view status

Precheck for VMware Software Update 4.4.1.0 in progress.

Upgrading NSX-T Host Clusters

Once the edges are upgraded we an go back to Inventory -> Workload Domains -> Select the workload domain -> Update/Patches -> Under Available updates click on Update Now

Cloud Foundation 4.4.1.0 update details, with options to schedule or update now.

Review the selection and click next

NSX Edge Clusters upgrade step shows all clusters updated; proceed to next.

Review the host clusters and click next

Host clusters selection screen for upgrade in VCF 4.x to 4.4.1.

Review the upgrade options and click next

Upgrade Options screen in VCF 4.x upgrade wizard.

Review the selection and click finish

Review screen shows upgrade options for NSX Edge and Host Clusters, with upgrade options disabled.

We can view the status of the upgrade by selection view status

In-Progress Updates: VMware Software Update 4.4.1.0 in progress.

Upgrading vCenter Server to 7.0 Update 3d

Once the upgrade is complete we can proceed with the vCenter Upgrade. VCF 4.4.1 comes with vCenter Server 7.0 Updated 3d. The release notes can be found here. We can go to inventory -> Workload Domains -> Select the workload domain -> Update/Patches -> Under Available updates click on the drop down and select Cloud Foundation 4.4.1 -> Download now.

Select Cloud Foundation 4.4.1.0 for vCenter Server 7.0 Update 3d.

Once the download is complete we can click on Update now

“Available Updates” section for Cloud Foundation 4.4.1.0, with options to “Schedule Update” or “Update Now.

We can follow the status of the upgrade by clicking on the view status tab

In-progress update details and status view for VMware Software Update 4.4.0.0.

Here we can see the different components that are getting upgraded

Upgrade summary for VMware vCenter Server 7.0 Update 3c shows successful updates and stages.

Upgrading the ESXi Hosts

Once the upgrade is complete we are taken back to the previous page where we can see that the ESXi servers are next. The release notes can be found here. Click on Download Now

VMware Cloud Foundation update page with options to select and download a specific version.

Once the download is complete we can click on Update now

If we have multiple clusters we can enable Cluster-level selection and select the specific cluster(s) we want to upgrade.

Wizard step: Select Clusters. Enable cluster-level selection to choose specific clusters for upgrade.

We can also enable sequential cluster upgrade as well as quick boot

Upgrade Options screen in a wizard for VCF 4.x to 4.4.1 upgrade.

We get to review the options once again before we click finish to to submit the task

Reviewing cluster and upgrade options before finalizing VCF 4.x to 4.4.1 update.

Once submitted we can view the status by clicking on View Status

In-Progress Updates show VMware Software Update 4.4.1.0 with ESXi 7.0 Update 3d.

Wrapping Up

And with that we are finished with the workload domain. We can follow the same steps for the other domains

Don’t forget to clean up the download bundles by following the steps from my other blog here