With the release of of VCF 5 I wanted to get my lab upgraded. The release blog can be found here and the release notes are here

Please note that some of the components within the VCF will still need additional upgrading. Please read the release notes for additional details.

We can start by going to Inventory -> Workload Domains -> Select the domain -> Update/Patches -> Select the VCF version -> Download now. If you do not see the newest releases go to Administration -> Online Depot and add a VMware Customer Connect account that has access to perform downloads.

In the Bundle Management section, you can see details about VMware Cloud Foundation Update 5.0.0.0, including release date and download options.

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

Upgrading VCF 4.3.x to VCF 5: Select Cloud Foundation version, download bundle.

Next we need to download the configuration drift bundle by going to Lifecycle Management -> Bundle Management -> Download now

The next step is to upgrade VCF by going to Inventory -> Workload Domains -> Select the workload domain -> Update/Patches -> Select the cloud foundation version we’re upgrading to and click on Update Now for the VMware Cloud Foundation Update 5.0

Upgrading VCF 4.3.x to VCF 5.0.0.0 shown in the Update/Patches step.

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

Upgrading VCF 5.0.0.0 in progress; SDDC Manager upgrade steps shown.

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

Finish button visible, upgrade applied, 42 min 36 sec elapsed.

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

The next step is the drift remediation VCF by going to Inventory -> Workload Domains -> Select the workload domain -> Update/Patches -> click on Update Now for the VMware Cloud Foundation Update 5.0

The image shows the VMware Cloud Foundation Update 5.0.0.0 details, with an option to schedule or update now.

Next step is to upgrade NSX-T installation to NSX-T 4.1.0.2.0. The release notes can be found here. We can go to Lifecycle Management -> Bundle Management -> Download now.

The image shows the Bundle Management page with details for VMware Software Update 5.0.0.0, available for download.

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

Upgrading VCF 4.5.0 to 5.0.0 shown, download available now.

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

UI shows upgrade details for NSX 4.5.0 to 5.0.0, 2 out of 5 bundles applied, upgrade now button visible.

Make the proper selection and click next

Select NSX Edge clusters for upgrade, then click Next.

Make the proper selection and click next

Select host clusters for upgrade; proceed if no clusters planned.

Make the proper selection and click next

Upgrade Options step in VCF upgrade wizard. Select parallel or sequential upgrade.

Review the options and click on Finish

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

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

Upgrading NSX to 5.0.0.0. View status for update #1.

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

Select Cloud Foundation version, click Update Now to upgrade.

Review the selection and click next

Upgrade wizard step shows NSX Edge Clusters with all clusters upgraded. Click Next.

Review the host clusters and click next

Host clusters selection page in VCF upgrade wizard.

Review the upgrade options and click next

Upgrade Options screen for VCF 4.3.x to 5 upgrade, showing parallel upgrade default and sequential upgrade options.

Review the selection and click finish

Review page shows upgrade options for NSX Edge and Host Clusters, with sequential upgrades disabled. Click Finish to proceed.

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

Upgrading VCF 4.3.x to VCF 5: View status of in-progress update.

Once the upgrade is complete we can proceed with the vCenter Upgrade. VCF 5 comes with vCenter Server 8.0 Updated 1a. 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 Download now.

VMware Software Update 5.0.0.0 released June 1, 2023, for vCenter Server 8.0U1a.

Once the download is complete we can click on Update now

Upgrade screen shows version 4.5.0.0 to 5.0.0.0, 3 of 5 bundles applied, and options to plan, view, schedule, or update now.

Confirm that we have a backup

Backup confirmation step for vCenter Server upgrade.

Considering that the vCenter upgrade is not in place we are presented with a wizard that can automate most of the background work for us. Click next

Wizard step 1: Introduction for vCenter Server Migration-Based Upgrade.

Provide a temporary IP for the temporary appliance

Wizard step: Temporary Network. Enter IP 192.168.110.23, subnet 255.255.255.0, gateway 192.168.110.1.

Review the information and click Finish

Review screen shows network details and upgrade notice; click Finish to proceed.

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

Upgrading VMware vCenter Server 8.0U1a, status shown for Domain Level Upgrade.

Here we can see the different components that are getting upgraded

Upgrading VCF 4.3.x to VCF 5: Progress shows pre-validation, unstage, set repo, precheck, and stage steps in progress.

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 Software Update 5.0.0.0 released, 629 MB, upgrade for ESXi 8.0U1a.

Once the download is complete we can click on Update now

Update now button visible for VMware ESXi 5.0.0.0 upgrade.

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

Select clusters for upgrade in VCF 4.3.x to 5.

We can also enable sequential cluster upgrade, quick boot and the ability to evacuate offline VMs part of the maintenance. Click Next

Upgrade Options screen in VCF upgrade wizard.

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

Reviewing upgrade options for VCF 4.3.x to VCF 5.0.

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

VMware Software Update 5.0.0.0 in progress, view status available.

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