vSphere 6.7 - WOW - is now GA

Hi all,

I thought that today (4/17/18) at 1700 it was embargo lifted but it was in fact 0500.  So I am wildly behind everyone. So I thought I would highlight some of the interesting new features in vSphere 6.7 but I will also now add a bunch of useful links too.

vSphere 6.7

• This is the last release of the Windows vC.  Good thing there is a very nice migration tool.
• I am very happy with the progress of the HTML5 client, and yes, I now 90 - 95% feature parity is not perfect but it is pretty darn good. I really like this client so I am happy I can spend more time in it.  VUM and vSAN are now supported in it but VUM is not there as 100% but certainly most.
• I like the Clarity UI enhancements for the appliance and the additional monitoring is good to.
• The ability to forward (in the VCSA) via Syslog to 3 destination servers is very nice.
• There is some additional alerts in the UI that will be helpful - Memory, Disk, and CPU.
• Something I am less familiar with, but see the value, is the ability to batch operations in the CLI.  I see some interesting usefulness of that for automation.
• There is significant additional RESTful API’s in a variety of areas.
• The addition of Quick boot for hosts will help in the reduction of outage windows due to patching and upgrades. Not sure if my hosts will support it but I suspect most Tier 1 new hosts will. As related to this there is less reboots as well.
• Per-VM EVC is a really interesting functionality that I think will help move things into, and out of, the cloud easier. It does require the new VM Compatibility of v14.

vSAN 6.7

• There is new vSAN technology that is only able to be configured via the HTML5 client.  So anything new you learn must be configured in the HTML5 client.
• The embedded vROps plug-in for HTML5 vSphere Client has dashboards for vSphere and vSAN.
• Windows Server Failover Clusters is now supported with the vSAN iSCSI service.
• Changes in vSAN ensures optimal balance for VM IO and Resync IO.
• Performance improvements due to faster destaging.  Improvements in handling of IO delivers higher throughput, more consistently, for destaging.
• VM swap object is now thin provisioned by default!
• When using redundant vSAN network will have a much faster failover now.
• Additional Health Check enhancements to help you manage your vSAN more easily but also some improved ones - including the firmware check.
• Support Insight has been improved to improve the support experience.  Very cool stuff!

Useful Links

• Important information to know before upgrading to vSphere 6.7 - http://vsphere-land.com/news/important-information-to-know-before-upgrading-to-vsphere-6-7.html
• Emad on VCSA - http://emadyounis.com/vcenter/vcenter-server-6-7-whats-new-rundown/
• Maximum Config - https://configmax.vmware.com/guest
• Anthony on vCSA and vSAN - https://anthonyspiteri.net/released-vsan-6-7-html5-goodness-enhanced-health-checks-and-more/
• Mike on security in vSphere 6.7 - https://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2018/04/introducing-vsphere-6-7-security.html
• Duncan on vSphere 6.7 - http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2018/04/17/vsphere-6-7-announced/
• Cormac on whats new - https://cormachogan.com/2018/04/17/whats-in-the-vsphere-and-vsan-6-7-release/
• Mastering vSphere 6.7 - https://www.nickmarshall.com.au/post/2018-04-17-mstrvsphere67/
• VMware’s official site - https://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/launch
• Williams wonderful collection of links - https://www.virtuallyghetto.com/2018/04/all-vsphere-6-7-release-notes-download-links.html
• Info on both vSphere and vSAN 6.7 - https://www.digitalvspace.com/2018/04/vmware-releases-vsphere-and-vcenter-67.html
• Storagehub vSAN 6.7 Technical Review - https://storagehub.vmware.com/t/vmware-vsan/vmware-vsan-6-7-technical-overview/
• vSphere 6.7 and SRM 8.1 - some good details as they relate to VMAX - https://drewtonnesen.wordpress.com/2018/04/17/vsphere-6-7-srm-8-1/
• Kyle has an interesting article - Introducing Developer and Automation interfaces for vSphere 6.7 - https://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2018/04/introducing-developer-automation-interfaces-vsphere-6-7.html
• TinkerTry - https://tinkertry.com/vsphere-6-7-released
• Whats new in SRM and vSphere Replication 8.1 - https://blogs.vmware.com/virtualblocks/2018/04/17/srm-vr-81-whats-new/
• Cody has an excellent article What’s New in Core Storage - https://www.codyhosterman.com/2018/04/whats-new-in-core-storage-in-vsphere-6-7-part-i-in-guest-unmap-and-snapshots/
• Functionality Updates for the vSphere Client - what has changed in HTML5 client - https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.5/rn/vsphere-client-65-html5-functionality-support.html
• Are you upgrading from vSphere 5.5?  If so watch out for this - https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/54724
• Videos -
  • Whats new in vSAN 6.7 - https://youtu.be/ViCmjJ7fDk8
  • vSAN 6.7 Technical - https://youtu.be/YzurWX5m4m8

Links specific for updating

• Update sequence for vSphere 6.7 and it’s compatible VMware products (note this only shows compatible software, so for example Horizon is not seen yet) - https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/53710
• Important information before upgrading to vSphere 6.7 - https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/53704
• Release Notes - https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.7/rn/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-67-release-notes.html
• Important info to know before upgrading - http://vsphere-land.com/news/important-information-to-know-before-upgrading-to-vsphere-6-7.html

Updates:

• 4/28/18 - added the link to the upgrading 5.5 KB article.  I have heard of people impacted by it.
• 4/17/18 - added the link to the important info to know before upgrading article. Added the functionality update for the HTML5 client link too. Also added the upgrade info links.
• 4/17/18 1006 - vSphere bits now GA, and available.
• 4/17/18 - added the link for SRM 8.1. Important note is that SRM and vSphere Replication are decoupled from specific versions of vC.  They can be installed with 3 or 4 different versions of vCenter.  I love the export config tool.
• 4/17/18 0947 - release notes are now available for vSphere 6.7 (and docs too).  Bit must not be far behind.

Summary

This is a big release, and I find it quite exciting.  The HTML5 changes are pretty good!  I used this release in beta and I was very impressed with the quality of the beta.  So pretty darn happy. Sad that one of my R710’s is not supported for 6.7 but overall a very nice release.  Lots to read above but definitely interesting.

I wanted to say thank you very much to VMware for the early access to this info, but also, Happy Birthday!

Remember, not all of the software related to vSphere is updated.  So, for me, I need View, and Veeam to both support 6.7 before I upgrade.  Make sure you check!

Michael

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