Building a VCF 9.1 Upgrade Runbook: Testing, Fallback, and Readiness Gates

This article provides a detailed guide for creating a robust VCF 9.1 upgrade runbook that goes beyond simple task sequencing. It emphasizes the importance of incorporating testing, fallback, and readiness gates to manage risks associated with upgrading multiple components like VCF Operations, SDDC Manager, NSX, vCenter, and ESXi. The article identifies common weaknesses in upgrade plans, such as vague validation and rollback strategies, and offers a gate-based model where each phase requires evidence and a stop/go decision. It covers prerequisites, safety checks, and operational considerations to ensure the environment is truly ready for upgrade, making it a valuable resource for IT professionals managing VMware Cloud Foundation upgrades.