Upgrade the NSX Application Platform (NAPP) and NSX Features

In this blog I will show you the end to end upgrade process of NSX Application Platform (NAPP) and all associated NSX Features. In my case all features(Intelligence, NDR and MP) based on top of NAPP were in use. So it is going to be a comprehensive upgrade.

Prerequisites:

1. Review release notes for known issues and work arounds
2. No open alarms
3. Make sure all of the prerequisites and system requirements listed in NSX Application Platform Deployment Prerequisites are met.
4. Enterprise Admin Privileges

Versions:

NAPP Current Version: 4.0.1.0.0.20606727

NAPP Target Version: 4.1.1.0.0.22213770

NSX Version: 3.2.3.1.0.22104638

Flow:

Preparation
NSX Application Platform Upgrade
NSX Intelligence Upgrade
NSX Network Detection and Response Upgrade
NSX Malware Prevention Upgrade

Check NSX Application Platform Health

Navigate to System > Upgrade

Click Upgrade. You will notice Prepare for Upgrade, NSX Application Platform and other features enabled automatically.

In Prepare for Upgrade tab review “Helm Repository” & “Docker Registry” locations which are populated automatically, make sure the locations are correct. And select “Platform Target Version” to version you are upgrading to in my case it is “4.1.1“

Click Deploy Upgrade Coordinator

I faced an error while deploying Upgrade Coordinator

Error: Deploying Upgrade Coordinator: Upgrade Coordinator post deployment plugin call failed

Solution: NSX Application Platform Upgrade Failed

Once Upgrade Coordinator deployment completes, under Prepare > Status will show as Success

And you will see NAPP and all Features which needs to be upgraded in sequence automatically.

Click on RUN PRE-CHECKS drop down and click on All Pre-Checks

Once Pre-Checks are completed you can click on DOWNLOAD PRE-CHECK RESULTS

Precheck results would look like below and you should see all status as SUCCESS

Upon ensuring pre-checks success. Click on NEXT

On NSX Application Platform page click UPGRADE. This step might take some time.

Upon NSX Application Platform upgrade completion. Click on RUN POST CHECKS. You should see Success under Overall & Group Status and No issues under Pot Check Status. This concludes NSX Application Platform upgrade. Click NEXT.

Under NSX Intelligence section click on UPGRADE

Upon NSX Intelligence upgrade completion. Click on RUN POST CHECKS. You should see Success under Overall & Group Status and No issues under Pot Check Status. This concludes NSX Intelligence upgrade. Click NEXT.

Under NSX Network Detection and Response section click on UPGRADE

Upon NSX Network Detection and Response upgrade completion. Click on RUN POST CHECKS. You should see Success under Overall & Group Status and No issues under Pot Check Status. This concludes NSX Network Detection and Response upgrade. Click NEXT.

Under NSX Malware Prevention section click on UPGRADE

Upon NSX Malware Prevention upgrade completion. Click on RUN POST CHECKS. You should see Success under Overall & Group Status and No issues under Pot Check Status. This concludes NSX Malware Prevention upgrade. Click FINISH to exit out of upgrade process

Validate the NSX Application Platform status and version under System > NSX Application Platform

Validate Status & Version details of Metrics, Intelligence, Network Detection and Response and Malware Prevention

Summary

Ensure all prerequisites are met and environment is error free. No need to download any software and its pretty much a straight forward process, just be patient and just run through the steps to achieve successful upgrade. In case if any you observe any Failures expand respective group row items and look into the Failed error messages and resolve the reported problem and Retry to complete the upgrade. Contact VMware support in case if required.