With the release of VCF 9 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 -> Updates -> Plan Upgrade.

The image shows the “Updates” tab in VMware Cloud Foundation, with options for precheck, in-progress updates, scheduled updates, and available updates.

Select Target Version VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0.0.0 and click Next

Selecting target version for VMware Cloud Foundation upgrade wizard.

Review the changes and\or customize the upgrade and click Confirm

Upgrade plan for VMware Cloud Foundation shows SDDC Manager, ESXi, NSX, vCenter, and RLM versions, with target versions and builds. Click Confirm to proceed.

We get presented with the next step. We can click Done to continue.

The image shows a “Plan Upgrade” step, confirming a VCF 9.0.0.0 upgrade plan.

After we wait a couple of minutes we can click on Download Now to download the new update bundle.

The screenshot shows the ‘Updates’ tab in VMware Cloud Foundation, displaying available updates for version 9.0.0.

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. Keep in mind that a token is needed for downloads. More details can be found here

The next step is to upgrade VCF by going to Inventory -> Workload Domains -> Select the workload domain -> Updates -> Update Now

The UI shows a workload domain update page with options to precheck, in-progress, and scheduled updates, indicating a version upgrade from 5.2.1 to 9.0.0.0.

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

Upgrading VCF 5.2.1 to VCF 9.0.0.0 in progress, showing SDDC Manager upgrade steps.

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

The upgrade to VCF 5.2.1 is complete; click Finish to return.

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

Next step is to upgrade NSX-T installation to NSX 9. The release notes can be found here.

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

Upgrading VCF 5.2.1 to 9.0.0.0, showing download options for updates.

Once the download is complete we can proceed with updating the NSX components by clicking on the Configure Update button.

Upgrading VCF 5.2.1 to 9.0.0.0, showing 1 of 4 steps done.

Click next

Configure Update wizard step: Introduction. NSX Precheck details shown.

Make the proper selection and click next

Configure Update: NSX Edge Clusters selection for upgrade.

Make the proper selection and click next

Upgrade Options screen in a VCF 5.2.1 to VCF 9 upgrade wizard.

Review the options and click on Run Precheck

Review page of a VCF upgrade wizard, showing options and a precheck button.

Once the Precheck is completed, we can click on Schedule update.

The screenshot shows a precheck summary for an NSX upgrade, indicating 3 warnings.

Click Next

Review step showing NSX Edge Clusters and upgrade options.

Schedule the upgrade and click Finish

The image shows a “Schedule Update” wizard step, allowing selection of a maintenance window for upgrading VCF.

Once the upgrade has started, a few minutes later we can click on view status in order to see the upgrade steps

Upgrading VCF 5.2.1 to VCF 9, showing In-Progress Update #1 with status and cancel options.

We can view the details of the upgrade

Upgrading VCF 5.2.1 to VCF 9.0.0.0 in progress, showing updates and hosts status.

Once the upgrade is complete we can proceed with the vCenter Upgrade. VCF 9 comes with vCenter Server 9. The release notes can be found here. We can go to Inventory -> Workload Domains -> Select the workload domain -> Updates -> Under Available updates click on Download now.

The image shows a VMware Cloud Foundation update page with available updates for VCF 9.0.0.0.

Once the download is complete we can click on Configure Update

Upgrading VCF 5.2.1 to VCF 9.0.0.0, 2/4 steps done, configure update available.

As we can see we now have 2 options. Reduced downtime which will install a target center and the migrate the data to it or an in place upgrade. Review the upgrade information and click Next.

Upgrade wizard step shows 2 options: Reduced Downtime Update and Regular Upgrade. Select one and click Next.

Confirm that we have a backup

Select ‘I have backed up the vCenter server’ for upgrade.

Provide a temporary network and click Next

Configure temporary network settings for VCF upgrade, then click Next.

Schedule the upgrade options and click Next

Configure upgrade scheduler for VCF 5.2.1 to VCF 9, select immediate prepare and automatic switch options.

Review the upgrade selections and click Finish

Review upgrade settings for VCF 5.2.1 to 9. Click Finish to start.

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

Upgrading VCF 5.2.1 to 9.0.0.0 in progress. View status for updates.

Here we can see the different components that are getting upgraded

Upgrading vCenter Server to v9.0.0.0.

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 for ESXi 9 can be found here. Click on Download Now.

Upgrading ESXi to version 9.0.0.0 is in progress, with 3 steps out of 4 completed.

Once the download is complete we can configure the upgrade options by clicking configure upgrade

Update progress shows 3/4 steps done; precheck recommended before configuring ESXi upgrade.

We get presented with the upgrade instructions. Click Next

Cluster precheck step in upgrade wizard.

Select a cluster with images and click Next

Selecting cluster “mgmt-cluster-01” for upgrade in VCF 5.2.1 to VCF 9.

Assign an image and click next

Assign image 8.0.3 to cluster mgmt-cluster-01; click Next.

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

Configure VCF upgrade options: sequential, quick boot, evacuate offline VMs. Click Next.

Review the updates and click Run precheck

Review screen for VCF upgrade, showing cluster details and upgrade options.

Once the precheck is completed we can click on schedule update. The first screen gives us a review. We ca continue by clicking Next.

Review screen shows cluster details and upgrade options for VCF 5.2.1 update.

Make the proper selection and click Next

Select maintenance window, acknowledge errors, then click Finish.

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

Upgrading VCF 5.2.1 to VCF 9, step 2 of 2, showing progress in the wizard.

If applicable apply any configuration updates

Configuration updates for VCF 5.2.1 upgrade shown, enabling SSH warnings.

We can review the environment to make sure all of the components have been upgraded

The image shows a list of current versions for SDDC Manager, ESXi hosts, and NSX components.

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