Track · Standalone VVF
VMware vSphere Foundation, no VCF Management Services.
For a VVF fleet with no SDDC Manager or Fleet Management layer – compute, storage, networking and admin run through native vSphere management, patched with standard vSphere lifecycle mechanisms (vLCM). If SDDC Manager is driving the upgrade, use the full VCF track instead.
The flow
Upgrade planning docs
Overview
Shared prerequisites and target-build guidance, plus a pointer to the full-VCF and standalone-VVF sequences below.
OpenStandalone VVF upgrade
The 6-step manual procedure for VMware vSphere Foundation with no VCF Management Services layer.
OpenVVF vs VCF feature comparison
Side-by-side VVF vs VCF tables from Broadcom's 9.1.1 comparison whitepaper: VCF Operations, Log Management, compute, storage, networking, VKS, add-ons, and upgrade paths from older SKUs. Applies to the VCF/VVF licensing decision.
OpenConverge and Import existing infrastructure
Converge (VCF Installer, brownfield vSphere into a new VCF or VVF instance) vs. Import (VCF Operations, an existing vCenter into a new workload domain on an already-running fleet) – prerequisites, version bars, and the NSX auto-selection back-in-time trap both share. Import is VCF only.
OpenVCF Operations sizing and scaling
VCF Operations 9.1 node sizes and object / metric limits from Configuration Maximums, how to check whether the current size still fits, and how to scale up (bigger nodes) or scale out (more nodes, cloud proxies). VCF or VVF.
OpenLicensing: what is sent to Broadcom
What the VCF 9 registration and license usage files contain field by field, how to inspect them yourself, connected vs. disconnected mode, and what happens when usage is not reported within 180 days. VCF or VVF.
OpenDisaster Recovery
SRM / vSphere Replication convergence to VCF Protection and Recovery, before the core upgrade. Applies to VCF, VVF, or pre-9 vSphere.
OpenIWA to LDAPS migration
Move a vCenter off Integrated Windows Authentication to AD-over-LDAPS before Phase 6, with a permissions/roles backup. vCenter-level, applies to VCF and VVF alike.
OpenVSS to VDS migration
Migrate a cluster off the Virtual Standard Switch to a vSphere Distributed Switch before extending a standalone VVF fleet to full VCF – NSX and SDDC Manager / Fleet Management both require VDS. Standalone VVF extending to full VCF only.
OpenVUM to vLCM images migration
Transition any remaining vLCM-baseline-managed clusters and standalone hosts to vLCM images before the ESX host phase – the PowerShell script for VCF, the vSphere Client for standalone VVF. Applies to VCF and VVF.
OpenvCenter proxy configuration
Configuring the vCenter appliance's own outbound proxy – the 7.0.x/8.0.x file method and the different, JSON-based 9.x method. Applies to VCF, VVF, or standalone vSphere.
OpenOperations modernization
Aria Operations to VCF Operations: in-place upgrade vs. fresh install, re-IP, HA setup, and vCenter integrations. Phase 1. Applies to fleet-managed VCF and standalone VVF alike.
OpenvCenter manual GUI upgrade
Manual GUI upgrade of a standalone vCenter (no Fleet Management), plus the vCenter-specific back-in-time compatibility check. Phase 6 alternate path. Standalone VVF (no VCF Management Services) only.
OpenAvi + License Hub upgrade
Avi Load Balancer Controller/Service Engine upgrade and the separate License Hub appliance, before SDDC Manager. Applies whenever Avi is in use, VCF or VVF.
OpenNSX Edge & Finalize
NSX Edge cluster upgrade and NSX finalize, replacing the plain Phase 8 – runs after the ESX / host-cluster phase. Applies whenever NSX Edge nodes are present.
OpenLog Management migration
VCF Operations for Logs migration to Log Management 9.1, after NSX finalize. Path depends on the running source version.
OpenPatching an existing VCF 9.1 fleet
Applying a maintenance/patch release to a fleet already on VCF 9.1 (e.g. 9.1.0.x to 9.1.1) – Express Patches vs. maintenance releases, depot prep, the mandatory component patching order, UI walkthrough, and known gotchas. Applies to VCF or VVF.
OpenVMware Tools ProductLocker
Shared VMware Tools repository setup, both PowerCLI methods, and why the location needs re-verifying after every ESXi upgrade. Applies to VCF, VVF, or standalone vSphere.
OpenField notes
Known issues and gotchas from real VCF 5.2 to 9.x upgrades, grouped by phase.
OpenVDT and lsdoctor diagnostics
Self-service diagnostic tools – VDT for a general appliance health sweep, lsdoctor for deeper VC Lookup Service / SSO / vmdir issues. Applies to VCF, VVF, or standalone vSphere.
Open