How to upgrade VCenter HA with Embedded Platform Services Controller

[ZahidHaseeb1978]

ENVIRONMENT

VCenter = 7.0.3.0.1100

Type = VCenter Server with an Embedded Platform Services Controller  

AGENDA

A VCenter HA with 3 nodes (Active, Passive and Witness node) is configured. We want to upgrade the VCenter HA from version 7 to version8. We decided to go with 2 phase process mentioned in below VMware link

GUI Upgrade of the vCenter Server Appliance (vmware.com) 

QUERY

When we upgrade VCenter HA, only we create a temporary new VM for Active node and perform 2 phase process to upgrade VCenter HA Active node. How the other 2 nodes (Passive and Witness) get upgraded from v7 to v8 ? Does the Active node then upgrade Passive and Witness nodes by himself from v7 to v8 after Active node upgradation gets completed ? please highlight some details for the upgradation process for Passive and Witness nodes 

[memaad]

Always best way to upgrade to the vCenter with HA, is to remove HA first and have vCenter server running on single node.

Take backup,

Take snapshot in powered off state

Then proceed with upgrade. Once completed, check functionality. Once satisfied, proceed to enable vCenter HA, where you will have passive node as version 8

[ZahidHaseeb1978]

I have got a VMware document for VCHA upgrade mentioned below. It says to do VCHA upgrade to v8 from v7 thru two stages installer. After the VCHA upgrade to v8 completes for Active node, the Passive and Witness nodes creates automatically as per the document. Below snapshot is for your reference as well for clarification. However you are saying to remove the VCHA and create the Passive and Witness nodes again after VCHA upgraded to v8. both are contradicting words 

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/8.0/vsphere-vcenter-80-upgrade-guide.pdf

[ZahidHaseeb1978]

Please advise on step-6 and correct the steps if any thing missed

1- Remove HA

2- Take a snapshot of Active node of VCenter

3- upgrade Active node of VCenter

4- Ensure VCenter functional after upgrade to V8

5- Create VCenter HA

6- Do we need to make new Passive and Witness node with V8 OR we attached the same previous V7 Passive and Witness nodes which automatically become V8 ?  

[memaad]

Note : Once you remove HA , it will delete Passive and witness node.

Once active is upgrade ( which again create new VM , with same name and existing IP address ) , then you can enable HA, which will create new passive and witness

[ZahidHaseeb1978]

1. Remove VCHA "This will remove Passive & Witness nodes"
   
2. Take a snapshot of VCenter Active node
3. Upgrade Active node of VCenter "thru two stages installer.exe"
4. Ensure VCenter is functional and fine after upgrade to V8
5. Create VCHA again "This will create Passive & Witness nodes"