Dell CloudLink 8.1.x Upgrade Guide

Upgrade requirements

For any security vulnerabilities, we recommend that you upgrade to the latest version available. For more information about the latest versions refer the knowledge base article Cloudlink-security-support-policy-and-security-update-release-schedule-for-supported-versions.

• For an upgrade from 7.1.5+ to 8.1, follow the Upgrade CloudLink 7.1.5+ to CloudLink 8.1 process in this document to do the upgrade.
• For an upgrade from 7.1.5+ to 8.0.2, follow the Upgrade CloudLink 7.1.5+ to CloudLink 8.1 process in this document to do the upgrade.
• For an upgrade from 8.0.2 to 8.1, follow the Upgrade CloudLink 8.0.x to CloudLink 8.1process in this document to do the upgrade. Before upgrading to CloudLink version 8.1.0 (build 13.13), ensure that you are using the version 8.0.2 (build 127.59).
• For an upgrade from 8.0.1 to 8.0.2, before upgrading to CloudLink version 8.0.2 (build 127.59), ensure that you are using the version 8.0.1 (build 87.46).
• Before upgrading to CloudLink version 8.0.1 (build 87.46), ensure that you are using the version 8.0 (build 3.10).
  NOTE:To upgrade to CloudLink 8.0.1:

  • Contact Dell Technologies Support team to upgrade to CloudLink version 8.0.1.
  • Install upgrade RPM package manually for CloudLink 8.0.1.
• Log in to the CloudLink Center to verify the CloudLink version and the build number. The version and build number is displayed in the Information box on the CloudLink Center Home panel.
• Need an active Internet connection to download the latest packages for upgrading Ubuntu Server on Microsoft Azure and AWS.
• Clear all the alarms before upgrading to the latest CloudLink version.
• If integration to AD/LDAP is using SSL (not recommended), Contact Dell Technologies Support team to re-configure Windows Domain with LDAP over SSL, as the configuration gets disabled during an upgrade.

For information about upgrading from CloudLink 7.1.5 or later versions to CloudLink version 8.0.1, see KB 000216470 .

VMs

• Ensure that your CloudLink Center virtual appliance is running the 8.1.0 (build 13.13).
• Ensure that all CloudLink Center VMs have at least 6 GB of RAM, four vCPUs, and 64 GB disk space before you upgrade.
  NOTE:If a CloudLink Center VM does not have enough resources for upgrading, the following message is displayed: System does not meet the minimum requirements.
• To automatically upgrade all CloudLink Agents, ensure that all machines registered with CloudLink Center are online and indicate as Connected in CloudLink Center. The Machine Agent Upgrade policy must be set to Auto.
• If the Machine Agent Upgrade policy is set to Auto, any CloudLink Agent that is not connected to CloudLink Center is automatically upgraded the next time CloudLink connects. If machines are online and connected during the upgrade, verify after the upgrade process. For more information, see Postupgrade verification.
• If the Machine Agent Upgrade policy is set to Manual, then all the machines in the respective machine group that uses Machine Agent Upgrade policy must be upgraded manually.
• Ensure that CloudLink Center cluster servers are online and synchronized with each other.

Backups

It is recommended that you back up CloudLink Center and the VMs before starting the upgrade process. Perform backups by using VM snapshots or traditional backup tools.

Ensure that the following critical backup requirements are met:

• Back up your CloudLink Center configuration data. For more information, see the chapter "Back up and restore CloudLink Center" in the Dell CloudLink Administration Guide.
• If you are using Microsoft Active Directory, Amazon S3 external storage, or an S3-compatible bucket, back up your encryption keys by using tools that are specific to those environments.

Keystore

If you are using an external keystore, ensure that the keystore is connected before starting the upgrade process.

CloudLink licenses

Before starting the upgrade process:

• Ensure that CloudLink licenses are not expired.
• Licenses that are past their support duration—typically one, two, or three years from the date of purchase—are blocked from being uploaded.
• If licenses are expired after uploading, all the existing CloudLink functionalities will continue to work including releasing of keys.
• New CloudLink agent installation and encryption of machines and SDS devices cannot be performed.
• To reenable encryption, purchase a new license and upload it.

Passwords

You require the following:

• The CloudLink secadmin password
• The CloudLink console password
• One of the CloudLink Vault passwords
• Passwords of the encrypted VMs

CloudLink clusters

The upgrade process upgrades all servers in a cluster.

• Ensure that all servers are accessible.
• Upload the upgrade ISO to any server in a cluster.
• Wait until the ISO image file is uploaded to all servers before you begin the upgrade process.

Ports

Before starting the upgrade process, ensure that TCP ports 1194 and UDP port 1194, are open. For more information, see the section "Software requirements for deploying CloudLink Center" in the Dell CloudLink Deployment Guide.