The upgrade of VMware vCloud USage meter has always been straightforward, meaning: mounting the downloaded ISO, run the script and you’re ready. However, as of version 9, the product name has changed to become more in line with the VMware VCF product portfolio, as well as authentication using an access token.
Release Notes for VCF Usage Meter 9.0.0.0
Steps involved
Download the VCF Usage Meter version 9.0.0.0 ISO file from Broadcom Support
Required: Access token for Usage Metering, per instance
- With VCF Usage Meter 9.0, registration in the VCF Business Services console now automatically provisions a dedicated OAuth app and generates a unique token for each VCF usage meter 9.0 instance. VMware Cloud Service Providers (VCSPs) use this token during the installation or upgrade of the VCF usage meter 9.0 appliance. Once installed, the VCF usage meter 9.0 securely communicates with the VCF Business Services console using this OAuth token.
- This step is mandatory for VCF usage meter 9.0 and cannot be bypassed for compliance and security reasons.
- VCSPs can manage their OAuth token directly from the VCF Business Services console including revoking access or rotating tokens to align with their internal security policies.
- You can create Access Tokens in the VCF Broadcom Portal – Usage Meters:
- https://vcf.broadcom.com/
- Navigate to Usage Management > Per Usage Meter instance > Generate token (from elipsis)
- Create a snapshot
- Give the Usage Meter VM a GuestOS shutdown
- Create offline VM snapshot to restore VM in case of failed update
- Power the VM back on
- Mount the ISO file to the Virtual Machine console
- Login to the console using the root account
- The screenshot below displays the commands used for the upgrade:
- Once the ISO is mounted to the VM’s remote console
mkdir /root/upgrade
mount -o loop /dev/cdrom /root/upgrade
bash /root/upgrade/upgrade-um.sh - You are prompted for the Access Token. It starts with UMA:
Using the Access Token you have created in an earlier step - You will be asked if the VCF Usage Meter is part of a tenant. You will notice this is the customer’s instance Usage Meter: confirm this with y
- You can also confirm you have created a snapshot. The upgrade continues, and takes about five minutes until completion.
- The screenshot below shows the SSH output
It will generate quite a lot of Update and Remove activity; apparently, the Photon GuestOS is upgraded as well - This is the final screen; it shows the Usage Meter appliance got upgraded to version 9.0.0.0. Press y to reboot.
- From the renewed VCF Usage Meter interface, you will find the GUI is somewhat changed, some products were removed, e.g. Horizon.
- Navigate to Settings and Cloud Connectivity
- From the Usage Management Portal at VCF Broadcom Portal, you can easily find all Usage Meter instances, and keep track of version numbering. As you can see, this is the first step towards Broadcom compliance in regards to your role of a VMware Cloud Service Provider.
- From this interface, you can unregister the Usage Meter (instance), but also rotate and even revoke access tokens.
- From the new VCF Usage Meter GUI Settings Interface itself, you can confirm a solid connection from your Usage Meter instance to Broadcom. As you can see, you can also update the Access Token if it is renewed, revoked from the VCF Broadcom portal
- As said, from the VCF Usage Meter GUI itself, you can update to a new key easily. Click Update Access Token here
- For SSL Certificate guidance, please follow the following link
Great job!