1. Proposed Title:
Enhance OCP Upgrade Experience to Avoid Upgrade Path Dead-Ends

2. Nature and Description of the Request:
Customers upgrading their OpenShift clusters may inadvertently upgrade to a z-stream version that lacks a valid upgrade path to the next y-stream or higher version. This can disrupt the intended upgrade journey, especially when moving between Extended Update Support (EUS) releases.

As mentioned in the RFE https://issues.redhat.com/browse/RFE-3010, the current workflow of changing the channel beforehand to match the intended destination is logical, however it assumes a level of technical expertise and attention to detail that not all customers may possess. Many customers may not fully understand or prioritize this step, as their primary focus is often on achieving their objectives rather than navigating technical nuances. As a result, we are observing recurring cases where customers find themselves stuck on a version, encountering a dead-end scenario. To address this, it is crucial to implement measures to proactively inform or guide customers—both in the CLI and through the OCP Console—to ensure a smoother and more intuitive experience

To address this, I propose the following enhancement suggestions:

• Enhancement 1: Introduce warnings or banners in both the `oc adm upgrade` command and the OCP web console. These warnings should inform customers about the potential lack of future upgrade paths if they proceed to the selected z-stream version. The warnings should also direct users to the [OCP Upgrade Path Tool](https://access.redhat.com/labs/ocpupgradegraph/update_path).
• Enhancement 2: Modify the `oc adm upgrade` command and OCP console to prompt customers to specify their desired destination version (e.g., 4.16.z). The tool should then validate the selected path and warn users if the current version doesn't support the planned upgrade route.
• Enhancement 3: Implement automated path validation checks in the upgrade process. If a z-stream version has no valid upgrade path to the next y-stream version, the system should explicitly flag it as a risk or block the upgrade unless the customer confirms they understand the potential consequences.
• Enhancement 4: Update OpenShift documentation and provide links in the upgrade UI to educate customers about planning upgrades across major and minor versions, particularly in EUS scenarios.

3. Why Does the Customer Need This?

• Business Requirements:

• • Prevent Operational Delays: Avoid situations where customers accidentally upgrade to a version that blocks future upgrades, causing operational delays and requiring manual intervention.
  • Improve Upgrade Planning: Many customers are unaware of the complexities of upgrade paths, especially between EUS versions. Automating path validation and providing clear warnings reduces reliance on customer planning and mitigates errors.
  • Reduce Support Cases: Missteps in upgrade planning lead to support tickets, consuming engineering and support resources. Proactively guiding customers minimizes these issues.
  • Enhance Customer Experience: Providing a seamless upgrade process improves customer satisfaction and trust in the OpenShift platform.

• Critical Use Cases:
  • Customers transitioning between EUS releases (e.g., 4.14 to 4.16).
  • Enterprises with strict SLAs that cannot afford unexpected upgrade disruptions.
  • Users managing large-scale OpenShift clusters without deep technical expertise in upgrade paths.

By implementing these features, OpenShift will ensure smoother upgrades, reduce risks, and align with customer expectations for enterprise-grade reliability and user experience.