Security patches are available for VMware vCenter 8.0 - Let's try the new vCenter Lifecycle Manager!
Tags: homelab, informationsecurity, vmware, vsphere
Published: 2022-12-17 17:53:13

---
title: Security patches are available for VMware vCenter 8.0 - Let's try the new vCenter Lifecycle Manager!
published: true
date: 2022-12-17 17:47:00 UTC
tags: HomeLab,InformationSecurity,VMWare,vSphere
canonical_url: https://blog.engyak.co/2022/12/security-patches-are-available-for.html
---

Let's take a look at the new lifecycle management process for vCenter.

The old process via the VAMI was easy to execute - the industry is upping the ante with automated pre- and post-testing. [Cisco's NX-OS installer](https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/nexus9000/sw/93x/upgrade/guide/b-cisco-nexus-9000-nx-os-software-upgrade-downgrade-guide-93x/b-cisco-nexus-9000-nx-os-software-upgrade-downgrade-guide-93x_chapter_0111.html) is another example - complex procedures (in Cisco's case, sequential PGA or microcode updates) invite problems and escalate a "simple" process to something only the senior-most engineer can safely operate.

vSphere 8 seeks to improve on vSphere 7's upgrade planner by including a "vCenter Lifecycle Manager" to administer package upgrades in an integrated, reliable fashion that includes available pre-checks and reduce "update anxiety".

[![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkWWHB_FDsBISjZ-0926exVaPE893-w_e2mx0igNnWt3Mc3cMOq3jta2DyWmKvhESj0BeXOIEC8JcRScFPt5Gich34QwkqCVWkHvv0oxT4mWxn_03lfcbls1ZXnSdYxJ3zuiPCO_9jnRzFovht22ox6Uwl3wpyw3rLRNV96lQQwxIIo_0RkkLrElJ/s1600/2022-12-17%2008_06_47-vSphere%20-%20NSX-dvSwitch%20-%20Summary%20%E2%80%94%20Mozilla%20Firefox.png)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkWWHB_FDsBISjZ-0926exVaPE893-w_e2mx0igNnWt3Mc3cMOq3jta2DyWmKvhESj0BeXOIEC8JcRScFPt5Gich34QwkqCVWkHvv0oxT4mWxn_03lfcbls1ZXnSdYxJ3zuiPCO_9jnRzFovht22ox6Uwl3wpyw3rLRNV96lQQwxIIo_0RkkLrElJ/s230/2022-12-17%2008_06_47-vSphere%20-%20NSX-dvSwitch%20-%20Summary%20%E2%80%94%20Mozilla%20Firefox.png)

Then navigate to **Updates -> vCenter Server -> Update:**

[![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ECfPJvz75ZLFb322lAaF6OoXbu6DiN4Kj0TR1387UfBzQUvUnkBGD0711I-qvv974cX2I19FEo-BmRO3mCpiLYY9ypdLZ8m8Y60EmDuxejSKJzTCl6ZTKzG5idpbHD8zDVxNszQDfI5_Xkk2xVV43rBDI6juSwfuJEIVCIyNOXazcp4K7Gn5NEnh/w836-h261/2022-12-17%2008_07_41-vSphere%20-%20vcenter.lab.engyak.net%20-%20Update%20%E2%80%94%20Mozilla%20Firefox.png)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ECfPJvz75ZLFb322lAaF6OoXbu6DiN4Kj0TR1387UfBzQUvUnkBGD0711I-qvv974cX2I19FEo-BmRO3mCpiLYY9ypdLZ8m8Y60EmDuxejSKJzTCl6ZTKzG5idpbHD8zDVxNszQDfI5_Xkk2xVV43rBDI6juSwfuJEIVCIyNOXazcp4K7Gn5NEnh/s1548/2022-12-17%2008_07_41-vSphere%20-%20vcenter.lab.engyak.net%20-%20Update%20%E2%80%94%20Mozilla%20Firefox.png)

Under **Select Version,** it's now possible to view eligible updates, along with the type and **Release Notes** :

[![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0kQkSFJOZVwQBkxLijNbHJEvJ9XUBZ6raTxSkjn4QyrfPmF12c1Ykwmt3OLwO2NqSF4kfYq9Cvo_eWqw7hmqFBaexQveYOhOh0QWik10WU_95TncC3qp-cPS4_SfDk9qNUMdsdPY2AdUfBhoplIK9oqfaGvU-euy_LxoAKQ2aJorF7R92WlW8otm/w640-h300/2022-12-17%2008_09_31-vSphere%20-%20vcenter.lab.engyak.net%20-%20Update%20%E2%80%94%20Mozilla%20Firefox.png)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0kQkSFJOZVwQBkxLijNbHJEvJ9XUBZ6raTxSkjn4QyrfPmF12c1Ykwmt3OLwO2NqSF4kfYq9Cvo_eWqw7hmqFBaexQveYOhOh0QWik10WU_95TncC3qp-cPS4_SfDk9qNUMdsdPY2AdUfBhoplIK9oqfaGvU-euy_LxoAKQ2aJorF7R92WlW8otm/s888/2022-12-17%2008_09_31-vSphere%20-%20vcenter.lab.engyak.net%20-%20Update%20%E2%80%94%20Mozilla%20Firefox.png)

For those of us that use NSX Data Center or other integrated products, interoperability checks are part of the wizard

[![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRUAAJFRuW4Wyfv3Y87zaGfeg3kYVsElwTqwdBEfWHlHAD7yxAY3_wQGV47aGBtCcPUrZCVDMUard40cAQ3h3Zd0bAV-ydcSW54bIBhwfadcB6FdMUEMjUSvi1aIqgCJ12m_E_dmyZxptCdZqLhIiriCv9njEoAQ93zbd6w74RGmeH3rSETv0R4tX/w640-h226/2022-12-17%2008_10_59-vSphere%20-%20vcenter.lab.engyak.net%20-%20Update%20%E2%80%94%20Mozilla%20Firefox.png)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRUAAJFRuW4Wyfv3Y87zaGfeg3kYVsElwTqwdBEfWHlHAD7yxAY3_wQGV47aGBtCcPUrZCVDMUard40cAQ3h3Zd0bAV-ydcSW54bIBhwfadcB6FdMUEMjUSvi1aIqgCJ12m_E_dmyZxptCdZqLhIiriCv9njEoAQ93zbd6w74RGmeH3rSETv0R4tX/s654/2022-12-17%2008_10_59-vSphere%20-%20vcenter.lab.engyak.net%20-%20Update%20%E2%80%94%20Mozilla%20Firefox.png)

[![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7h5XAXqDr5lia69Lq8RIgRtPmRscPTgb90MmJE0CZ_3oA3RzrJNntT5IO2SSeDsZq-F7c7dhS-irk90bRM0YHlBPEkqwYYh8Ptjl7EFZDOq5ADeWXFxEo1QR_mgALQ8ukMN6QVm-U8FmdeooV3KLip7E9yPc1R6ID05INjPzrHYMEJPLjPCPWjfh/w848-h199/2022-12-17%2008_11_22-vSphere%20-%20vcenter.lab.engyak.net%20-%20Update%20%E2%80%94%20Mozilla%20Firefox.png)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7h5XAXqDr5lia69Lq8RIgRtPmRscPTgb90MmJE0CZ_3oA3RzrJNntT5IO2SSeDsZq-F7c7dhS-irk90bRM0YHlBPEkqwYYh8Ptjl7EFZDOq5ADeWXFxEo1QR_mgALQ8ukMN6QVm-U8FmdeooV3KLip7E9yPc1R6ID05INjPzrHYMEJPLjPCPWjfh/s1104/2022-12-17%2008_11_22-vSphere%20-%20vcenter.lab.engyak.net%20-%20Update%20%E2%80%94%20Mozilla%20Firefox.png)

Unfortunately, the vCenter backup step is not included as part of the wizard at this time. (Note: You can [back up directly to a filer with vSphere 7](https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/8.0/vsphere-vcenter-installation/GUID-8C9D5260-291C-44EB-A79C-BFFF506F2216.html) or newer)

[![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlUCkq6R7-wlBN_GMRNZD6nNsEYr5nKGVNKDwr-f0sEejxLt2PiSwgPFB3bRHKfP2CVXCedx1NuBPMe22ZP0EkfLdawn04kSzx1j1N6I71_DLjXYEDssn6uojKqFRd6L-NH3mg73bDgAoHVSFZLQGRuL0EgSQ62AOfbFSb9Ch_SrH0FaXM9-9Oc9W/w847-h175/2022-12-17%2008_21_25-vSphere%20-%20vcenter.lab.engyak.net%20-%20Update%20%E2%80%94%20Mozilla%20Firefox.png)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlUCkq6R7-wlBN_GMRNZD6nNsEYr5nKGVNKDwr-f0sEejxLt2PiSwgPFB3bRHKfP2CVXCedx1NuBPMe22ZP0EkfLdawn04kSzx1j1N6I71_DLjXYEDssn6uojKqFRd6L-NH3mg73bDgAoHVSFZLQGRuL0EgSQ62AOfbFSb9Ch_SrH0FaXM9-9Oc9W/s1412/2022-12-17%2008_21_25-vSphere%20-%20vcenter.lab.engyak.net%20-%20Update%20%E2%80%94%20Mozilla%20Firefox.png)

Looks like we're not **quite** ready to use this feature to its fullest potential yet. some notable limitations still exist and should be compensated for:

- The "Go button" still requires the VAMI installer for execution
- The Lifecycle checker isn't aware of everything (NSX ALB was missing from the matrix), so trips to the [Interoperability Matrix](https://interopmatrix.vmware.com/Interoperability) are still a good idea
- You can subscribe to get release information from VMware using RSS by visiting the [product documentation page](https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/8.0/rn/vmware-vsphere-80-release-notes/index.html) and copying the RSS link:
[![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_j62mG_47DD_vH8hc2wp6wh2f47poRpca1PhMSNKTs9rciASMZGDovgFmz33Rl_RCShbjcyHnbVug4m53Ny_gZ0AxqYQNIXRkRYnaz4LtjyVNvNAItUbiAKfxWJzlld665xUnvt9iwQq_jXkSIFFtkiok2Qgx-JcXrsUhk5uUoPy-ruMRPu7qnWo-/w400-h71/2022-12-17%2008_36_34-VMware%20vSphere%208.0%20Release%20Notes%20%E2%80%94%20Mozilla%20Firefox.png)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_j62mG_47DD_vH8hc2wp6wh2f47poRpca1PhMSNKTs9rciASMZGDovgFmz33Rl_RCShbjcyHnbVug4m53Ny_gZ0AxqYQNIXRkRYnaz4LtjyVNvNAItUbiAKfxWJzlld665xUnvt9iwQq_jXkSIFFtkiok2Qgx-JcXrsUhk5uUoPy-ruMRPu7qnWo-/s559/2022-12-17%2008_36_34-VMware%20vSphere%208.0%20Release%20Notes%20%E2%80%94%20Mozilla%20Firefox.png)

  - Most collaboration platforms (like Teams) can [support attaching an RSS feed to a channel](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/connectors/rss/)

Establishing processes and automatic patch notifications (RSS is a powerful tool for that) will go a long way toward making a New Year's resolution to keep our systems up to date!