Feature Overview

This feature outlines a strategy to end support for VMware vSphere 7.x, vCenter 7.x and VCF 4.3 within OpenShift Container Platform (OCP) triggered by the announcement about vSphere 7.x, vCenter 7.x and vSAN 7.x EoGS, the supported VCF versions and Product Lifecycle Details_10.01.2025.xlsx published by Broadcom.

This phased approach provides a clear and predictable lifecycle for platform support, aligns OCP with modern infrastructure, and helps customers maintain secure and supportable environments.

Key dates from the announcement published by Broadcom:

• Does not apply to Broadcom contracts. Applicable to valid VMware contracts only.

Key dates from the supported VCF versions published by Broadcom:

Key dated from Product Lifecycle Details_10.01.2025.xlsx):

vSphere 7.x/vCenter 7.x EoGS impacts OpenShift 4.16+.

VCF 4.x EoGS impacts OpenShift 4.16+.

Step 1: End of support announcement

Assumptions

• End of vSphere 7.x, vCenter 7.x support - Oct 2, 2025
• End of VCF 4.3 support - Sep 30, 2025
• End of VCF 4.4 and 4.5 support - Oct 2, 2025

Goals

• A Platform Administrator installing or managing OCP on vSphere/vCenter is clearly notified about the end of support for vSphere 7.x/vCenter 7.x//VCF4.x.
• The installer for UPI, IPI, and Assisted Installer displays a non-blocking warning message during installation on a vSphere 7.x/vCenter 7.x/VCF4.3 environment (Agent-Based Installer follows Assisted Installer).
• The end of support notice is included in the release notes of all applicable OCP versions that are supported (OpenShift 4.16+).
• Official OCP documentation for all vSphere/vCenter/VCF installation methods is updated with a prominent end of life statement (triggered by the announcement about vSphere 7.x, vCenter 7.x and vSAN 7.x EoGS, the supported VCF versions and Product Lifecycle Details_10.01.2025.xlsx published by Broadcom).

Requirements

• Functional:
  • All installers (Assisted Installer, UPI, IPI) must display a clear, non-blocking warning message about the end of support for vSphere 7.x/vCenter 7.x/VCF4.x triggered by the announcement about vSphere 7.x, vCenter 7.x and vSAN 7.x EoGS, the supported VCF versions and Product Lifecycle Details_10.01.2025.xlsx published by Broadcom.

• Documentation:
  • A standard end of support notice will be drafted in collaboration with the documentation team.
  • All relevant documentation for vSphere/vCenter/VCF installations/support must be updated with this notice.
  • Release notes for the target OCP versions must include the end of life announcement.

Step 2: Remove the possibility to install OpenShift on vSphere 7.x/vCenter 7.x and VCF 4.x

IMPORTANT - WE CAN'T BLOCK IF THERE IS AT LEAST ONE SUPPORT EXCEPTION.

Goals

• Platform Administrators are actively blocked from installing new OCP clusters on vSphere 7.x/vCenter 7.x/VCF4.x environments.
• Platform Administrators are blocked from upgrading existing clusters to the target OCP release if the underlying infrastructure is vSphere 7.x/vCenter 7.x/VCF4.x.
• The OCP support matrix is updated to reflect that vSphere 8.x/VCF5.x or higher is the minimum required version.

Requirements

• Functional:
  • A user can not deploy a new OCP cluster on vSphere 7.x/vCenter 7.x/VCF4.x.
    • The error message must clearly state that vSphere 7.x/vCenter 7.x/VCF4.x is no longer supported.

• • The OCP cluster upgrade process must incorporate a similar blocking check to prevent upgrades on vSphere 7.x/vCenter 7.x/VCF4.x.

• Maintainability:
  • Any conditional code, workarounds, or tests specific to vSphere 7.x/vCenter 7.x/VCF4.x that are no longer necessary should be removed to simplify the codebase.

Questions to Answer

• …

Out of Scope

• Providing automated tools to assist customers in migrating from vSphere 7.x/vCenter 7.x/VCF4.3 to a newer version.

Links

• VMware Announcement:[ |https://blogs.vmware.com/cloud-foundation/2024/07/25/announcing-extension-of-vmware-vsphere-7-x-and-vmware-vsan-7-x-general-support-period/] Reminder: vSphere 7 to reach End of Service on Oct 2, 2025
• VMware Announcement:[ Announcing Extension of VMware vSphere 7.x and VMware vSAN 7.x General Support Period|https://blogs.vmware.com/cloud-foundation/2024/07/25/announcing-extension-of-vmware-vsphere-7-x-and-vmware-vsan-7-x-general-support-period/]
• Correlating VMware Cloud Foundation version with the versions of its constituent products
• Broadcom® Software Broadcom Maintenance Policy Handbook
• [From Broadcom support system] Product Lifecycle Details_10.01.2025.xlsx