Module 10: vSphere Lifecycle

Management

© 2020 VMware, Inc.

Importance
Managing the life cycle of vSphere involves keeping vCenter Server and ESXi hosts up to date
and integrated with other VMware and third-party solutions. To achieve these goals, you must
understand how to use the new features provided by vSphere Lifecycle Manager, namely, cluster-
level management of ESXi hosts and the vCenter Server Update Planner.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 2

Module Lessons
1. vCenter Server Update Planner
2. Overview of vSphere Lifecycle Manager
3. Working with Baselines
4. Working with Cluster Images
5. Managing the Life Cycle of VMware Tools and VM Hardware

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 3

Virtual Beans: Lifecycle Management
Virtual Beans is struggling with its current lifecycle management process. The process is mostly
manual and is error-prone and inefficient.
The company wants to use vSphere Lifecycle Manager. It hopes that this feature can provide a
centralized, automated patch and version management system for keeping vSphere components
up to date:
• vCenter Server
• ESXi hosts
• Virtual machines:
– VM hardware
– VMware Tools
As the vSphere administrator, you must implement vSphere Lifecycle Manager in the Virtual
Beans data center.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 4

Lesson 1: vCenter Server Update Planner

© 2020 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.

Learner Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to meet the following objectives:
• Describe features of the vCenter Server Update Planner
• Run vCenter Server upgrade prechecks and interoperability reports
• Export prechecks and interoperability report results

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 6

Overview of vCenter Server Update Planner
In vSphere 7, you can use the Update Planner feature for planning updates to vCenter Server
and other VMware products that are registered with it.
The Update Planner can perform the following tasks:
• Retrieve information about VMware products registered with vCenter Server.
• List available vCenter Server updates and upgrades.
• Create interoperability reports.
• Perform a precheck to verify that your system meets the minimum software and hardware
requirements for a successful upgrade of vCenter Server.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 7

Update Planner Requirements
The Update Planner feature is
available for vCenter Server 7.0
or later.
You must join the VMware
Customer Experience
Improvement Program (CEIP) to
generate an interoperability or
precheck report.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 8

Update Planner View in the vSphere Client
When a new vCenter Server version is available, the new version appears on the Updates tab of
the vSphere Client.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 9

Interoperability View in vSphere Client
The Interoperability page on the Monitor tab shows VMware products that are currently
registered with vCenter Server and their compatibility with the current version of vCenter Server.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 10

Exporting Report Results
You can export report results in CSV format and use the report as a guide to prepare for an
update.
Both product interoperability and precheck reports can be exported.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 11

Managing the vCenter Server Life Cycle
To manage the life cycle of vCenter Server, use the vCenter Server Management Interface (VAMI)
to update and patch, and use the vCenter Server installer to upgrade.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 12

Review of Learner Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to meet the following objectives:
• Describe features of the vCenter Server Update Planner
• Run vCenter Server upgrade prechecks and interoperability reports
• Export prechecks and interoperability report results

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 13

Lesson 2: Overview of vSphere Lifecycle
Manager

© 2020 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.

Learner Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to meet the following objectives:
• Recognize features of vSphere Lifecycle Manager
• Distinguish between managing hosts using baselines and managing hosts using images
• Change the patch download source

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 15

Introduction to vSphere Lifecycle Manager
vSphere Lifecycle Manager centralizes automated patch and
version management for clusters, ESXi, drivers and firmware,
VM hardware, and VMware Tools.
vSphere Lifecycle Manager features include:
• Upgrading and patching ESXi hosts
• Installing and updating third-party software on ESXi hosts
• Standardizing images across hosts in a cluster
• Installing and updating ESXi drivers and firmware
• Managing VMware Tools and VM hardware upgrades

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 16

Baselines and Images
vSphere Lifecycle Manager supports two methods for updating and upgrading ESXi hosts.
Only one method is supported at a time.
If you switch from managing using baselines to managing using images, you cannot switch back.

Managing Using Baselines Managing Using Images

Compares ESXi hosts against an ESXi major Compares ESXi hosts against a customized image
version, group of patches, or set of extensions. that includes a base ESXi image, one or more add-
on components, one or more vendor add-on
components, firmware and drivers.
Supports all versions of ESXi from 6.5 and later. Supports ESXi version 7.0 and later.
Baselines attach to individual ESXi hosts. Hosts in a cluster are managed collectively, with one
ESXi host image per cluster.
ESXi upgrades through ISO images ESXi upgrades through image depots (ZIP files).
ESXi updates or patches are bundled into ESXi updates or patches are bundled and
baselines. distributed as new ESXi versions.
© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 17
vSphere Lifecycle Manager Home View
In the vSphere Lifecycle Manager home view,
you configure and administer the vSphere
Lifecycle Manager instance that runs on your
vCenter Server system.
From the drop-down menu at the top of the
Lifecycle Manager pane, you can select the
vCenter Server system that you want to
manage.
To access the vSphere Lifecycle Manager
home view in the vSphere Client, select Menu >
Lifecycle Manager.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 18

Patch Settings
By default, vSphere Lifecycle Manager is configured to download patch metadata automatically
from the VMware repository.
Select Settings > Patch Setup to change the patch download source or add a URL to configure
a custom download source.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 19

vSphere Lifecycle Manager Integration with vSphere DRS
When performing remediation operations on a cluster that is enabled with vSphere DRS, vSphere
Lifecycle Manager automatically integrates with vSphere DRS:
• When vSphere Lifecycle Manager places hosts into maintenance mode, vSphere DRS
evacuates each host before the host is patched.
• When vSphere Lifecycle Manager attempts to place a host into maintenance mode, certain
prechecks are performed to ensure that the ESXi host can enter maintenance mode.
• The vSphere Client reports any configuration issues that might prevent an ESXi host from
entering maintenance mode.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 20

Review of Learner Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to meet the following objectives:
• Recognize features of vSphere Lifecycle Manager
• Distinguish between managing hosts using baselines and managing hosts using images
• Change the patch download source

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 21

Lesson 3: Working with Baselines

© 2020 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.

Learner Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to meet the following objectives:
• Identify types of baselines and baseline groups
• Recognize how to create baselines
• Describe how to update hosts using baselines

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 23

Baselines and Baseline Groups
A baseline includes one or more
patches, extensions, or
upgrades.
vSphere Lifecycle Manager
includes the following dynamic
baselines by default:
• Critical Host Patches
• Non-Critical Host Patches
• Host Security Patches
A baseline group includes
multiple baselines.
Baseline groups can contain
one upgrade baseline and one
or more patch and extension
baselines.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 24

Creating and Editing Patch or Extension Baselines
Using the New Baseline wizard, you can create baselines to meet the needs of your deployment:
• Fixed patch baseline: Set of patches that do not change as patch availability changes.
• Dynamic patch baseline: Set of patches that meet certain criteria.
• Host extension baseline: Contains additional software for ESXi hosts. This additional software
might be VMware or third-party software.
When you create a patch or extension baseline, you can filter the patches and extensions
available in the vSphere Lifecycle Manager repository to find specific patches and extensions to
include in the baseline.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 25

Creating a Baseline
To create a baseline, select Lifecycle Manager from the Menu drop-down menu. Click NEW >
Baseline.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 26

Creating a Baseline: Name and Description
Provide the name, a
description, the content of the
baseline, and the ESXi version
that this baseline applies to.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 27

Creating a Baseline: Select Patches Automatically
To create a dynamic baseline, set the criteria for adding patches to the baseline and select the
check box for automatic updating of the baseline.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 28

Creating a Baseline: Select Patches Manually
To create a fixed baseline, select the patches that you want to include in the baseline.
You must also disable the automatic updates by deselecting the check box on the Select Patches
Automatically page.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 29

Updating Your Host or Cluster with Baselines
Managing the life cycle of a standalone host or
cluster of hosts is a five-step process:
1. Select your host or cluster and select the
Updates tab.
The Baselines window is the default view.
2. Attach one or more baselines.
3. Check compliance of your host or cluster with
the attached baselines.
4. Perform a precheck before remediating.
5. Remediate the host or cluster.
Optionally, stage your patches to copy them
to hosts for remediation later.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 30

Remediation Precheck
The Remediation Pre-check in
vSphere Lifecycle Manager
helps to verify that your
remediation is successful.
vSphere Lifecycle Manager
notifies you about any actions
that it takes before the
remediation and recommends
actions for your attention.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 31

Remediating Hosts
During the remediating process, the upgrades, updates, and patches from the compliance check
are applied to your hosts:
• You can perform the remediation immediately or schedule it for a later date.
• Host remediation runs in different ways, depending on the types of baselines that you attach
and whether the host is in a cluster.
• For ESXi hosts in a cluster, the process is sequential by default.
• The remediation of hosts in a cluster temporarily disables cluster features such as vSphere HA
admission control.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 32

Review of Learner Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to meet the following objectives:
• Identify types of baselines and baseline groups
• Recognize how to create baselines
• Describe how to update hosts using baselines

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 33

Lesson 4: Working with Images

© 2020 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.

Learner Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to meet the following objectives:
• Describe ESXi images
• Import ESXi updates into the vSphere Client
• Enable vSphere Lifecycle Manager in a cluster
• Define a cluster image using vSphere Lifecycle Manager
• Validate ESXi host compliance against a cluster image
• Update ESXi hosts using vSphere Lifecycle Manager
• Apply a recommended image to the hosts in a cluster

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 35

Elements of ESXi Images
Managing clusters with images helps to standardize the software
running on your ESXi hosts.
An ESXi image consists of several elements:
• ESXi base image: An update that provides software fixes and
enhancements
• Components: A logical grouping of one or more VIBs (vSphere
Installation Bundles) that encapsulates a functionality in ESXi
• Vendor add-ons: Sets of components that OEMs bundle
together with an ESXi base image
• Firmware and Drivers Add-On: Firmware and driver bundles
that you can define for your cluster image
To maintain consistency, you apply a single ESXi image to all
hosts in a cluster.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 36

Image Depots
The landing page for the
vSphere Lifecycle Manager
home view is the Image Depot
tab.
In the Image Depot tab, you
can view details about
downloaded ESXi elements:
• ESXi versions
• Vendor add-ons
• Components

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 37

Importing Updates
To use ESXi updates from a
configured online depot, select
Sync Updates from the
Actions drop-down menu in the
Lifecycle Manager pane.
You can also use ESXi updates
from an offline bundle:
• From the Actions drop-down
menu, select Import
Updates.
• Enter a URL or browse for a
ZIP file that contains an ESXi
image.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 38

Using Images to Perform ESXi Host Life Cycle Operations
After all ESXi hosts in a cluster are upgraded to
vSphere 7, you can convert their lifecycle
management from baselines to images.
You set up a single image and apply it to all
hosts in a cluster. This step ensures cluster-
wide host image homogeneity.
To set up a cluster image, the following
requirements apply:
• All ESXi hosts must be version 7 or later.
• All ESXi hosts must be statefully installed.
• Ideally, all physical hosts should be from the
same vendor.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 39

Creating an ESXi Image for a New Cluster
When creating a cluster, you can create a
corresponding cluster image:
1. Create a cluster.
2. Select the Manage image setup and
updates on all hosts collectively check
box.
3. Define the ESXi version for your cluster
image.
4. (Optional) Select vendor add-ons for the
host.
Only add-ons that are compatible with the
selected vSphere version appear in the drop-
down menu.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 40

Checking Image Compliance
After you define a valid image, you can perform a compliance check to compare that image with
the image that runs on the ESXi hosts in your cluster.
You can check the image compliance at the
level of various vCenter Server objects:
• At the host level for a specific ESXi host
• At the cluster level for all ESXi hosts in the
cluster
• At the data center level for all clusters and
hosts in the data center
• At the vCenter Server level for all data
centers, clusters, and ESXi hosts in the
vCenter Server inventory.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 41

Running a Remediation Precheck
To ensure that the cluster's health is good and that no problems occur during the remediation
process of your ESXi hosts, you can perform a remediation precheck.
The procedure for a remediation precheck is as
follows:
• In the vSphere Client, click Hosts and
Clusters and select a cluster that is
managed by an image.
• In the Updates tab, click Image.
• In the Image Compliance pane, run a
remediation precheck.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 42

Hardware Compatibility
The hardware compatibility
check verifies the underlying
hardware of the ESXi host in
the cluster against the vSAN
Hardware Compatibility List
(HCL).

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Standalone VIBs
When you convert a cluster to use vSphere Lifecycle Manager, ESXi hosts are scanned.
During this scan, any VIB that is not part of an identified component is identified as standalone,
and a warning appears.
Before updating ESXi hosts, you can import or ignore standalone VIBs:
• Import a component that contains the VIB and add it to the cluster image.
• Ignore the warning and let the update process remove the VIB from the host.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 44

Remediating a Cluster Against an Image
When you remediate a cluster that you manage
with an image, vSphere Lifecycle Manager
applies the following elements to the ESXi
hosts:
• ESXi image version
• Optional: vendor addon
• Optional: firmware and driver addons
• Optional: user specified components
Remediation makes the selected hosts
compliant with the desired image.
You can remediate a single ESXi host or an
entire cluster, or simply pre-check hosts without
updating them.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 45

Reviewing Remediation Impact
The Review Remediation Impact dialog box
includes the following information:
• Impact summary
• Applicable remediation settings
• End User License Agreement
• Impact to specific hosts
vSphere Lifecycle Manager performs a
precheck before each remediation.
When the precheck is complete, vSphere
Lifecycle Manager applies the latest saved
cluster image to the hosts.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 46

Recommended Images
Using vSphere Lifecycle Manager, you can check for recommended images for a cluster that you
manage with an image.
vSphere Lifecycle Manager checks for compatibility across the image components. This process
ensures that the recommended image fulfills all software dependencies.
To check for recommended images:
1. In the Updates tab, select Image in the navigation pane.
2. Click the ellipses menu next to EDIT and select Check for recommended images.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 47

Viewing Recommended Images
To view recommended images for a cluster:
1. Click the Updates tab for the cluster.
2. Select Actions under Cluster Image.
3. Select View recommended images.
4. Select an image and click CONTINUE.
vSphere shows the recommended images for
clusters in the following categories:
• Latest release within the current series
• Latest major release

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 48

Selecting a Recommended Image
You can select a recommended image and then validate and save it as the desired cluster image.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 49

Customizing Cluster Images
After you start managing a cluster with an
image, you can edit the image by changing,
adding, or removing components, such as the
ESXi image version, vendor add-ons, firmware
and driver add-ons, and other components.
Before saving the image specification, you can
validate it:
• Ensures completeness of the image
• Verifies that the image has no missing
component dependencies
• Confirms that components do not conflict
with one another

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 50

Review of Learner Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to meet the following objectives:
• Describe ESXi images
• Import ESXi updates into the vSphere Client
• Enable vSphere Lifecycle Manager in a cluster
• Define a cluster image using vSphere Lifecycle Manager
• Validate ESXi host compliance against a cluster image
• Update ESXi hosts using vSphere Lifecycle Manager
• Apply a recommended image to the hosts in a cluster

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 52

Lesson 5: Managing the Life Cycle of
VMware Tools and VM Hardware

© 2020 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.

Learner Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to meet the following objective:
• Use vSphere Lifecycle Manager to upgrade VMware Tools and VM hardware

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 54

Keeping VMware Tools Up To Date
With each release of ESXi, VMware provides a new release of VMware Tools.
New releases include:
• Bug fixes
• Security patches
• New driver support for ESXi enhancements
• Performance enhancements for virtual devices
Keeping VMware Tools up to date is an important part of ongoing data center maintenance.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 55

Upgrading VMware Tools (1)
From a host or cluster's Updates tab, select
VMware Tools to manage the life cycle of
VMware Tools.
Step 1: Check the status of VMware Tools
running in your VMs. A VM has one of the
following status values:
• Upgrade Available
• Guest Managed
• Not Installed
• Unknown
• Up to Date

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 56

Upgrading VMware Tools (2)
Select the VMs that use
VMware Tools whose version
you want to upgrade to a newer
version.
Step 2: Click UPGRADE TO
MATCH HOST.
1. Select the VMs to upgrade.
2. Schedule the upgrade.
Plan the upgrade during your
maintenance window.
3. Select rollback options.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 57

Keeping VM Hardware Up To Date
With each subsequent release of ESXi, VMware provides a new release of VM hardware.
As ESXi improves its hardware support, VMware often carries that support into its VMs.
New releases include:
• Greater configuration maximums
• New types of hardware (for example, vGPU, vNVMe, vSGX, vTPM, and so on)
Consider upgrading VM hardware only when new features are required.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 58

Upgrading VM Hardware (1)
Select VM Hardware to upgrade your VMs'
hardware.
Step 1: Check the status of the VM hardware
running in your VMs. A VM has one of the
following status values:
• Upgrade Available: You can choose to
upgrade VM hardware to match the current
version available for your ESXi hosts.
• Up to Date: The version of VM hardware
running in the VM matches the latest
available version for the ESXi host.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 59

Upgrading VM Hardware (2)
Select the VMs whose
hardware version you want to
upgrade to the latest version
available on the ESXi host on
which they run.
Step 2: Click UPGRADE TO
MATCH HOST.
1. Select the VMs to upgrade.
2. Schedule the upgrade.
Plan the upgrade during your
maintenance window.
3. Select rollback options.

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 60

Review of Learner Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to meet the following objective:
• Use vSphere Lifecycle Manager to upgrade VMware Tools and VM hardware

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 61

Virtual Beans: Conclusion
By developing vSphere knowledge and skills and helping to create a modern data center at
Virtual Beans, you help the company meet its expanding business demands.
Your manager recognizes your competence and assigns you as the lead vSphere administrator.
Thinking of the continuous company growth, your manager considers you for cross-training and
additional responsibilities.
You think to yourself, “Now I must get that VMware certification!”
VMware Certified Professional - Data Center Virtualization:
https://www.vmware.com/education-services/certification/vcp-dcv.html

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 62

Key Points
• With the Update Planner feature, you can perform prechecks to verify that your vCenter Server
system meets the minimum requirements for a successful upgrade.
• vSphere Lifecycle Manager centralizes automated patch and version management for clusters,
ESXi, drivers and firmware, VM hardware, and VMware Tools.
• In vSphere Lifecycle Manager, you can manage ESXi hosts by using baselines, or you can
manage a cluster of ESXi hosts by using images.
• Keeping VMware Tools up to date is an important part of ongoing data center maintenance.
• Consider upgrading VM hardware only when new features are required.
Questions?

© 2020 VMware, Inc. VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V7] | 10 - 63