VxRail: How to enable vSphere Lifecycle Manager mode

Summary: This article introduces how to enable vSphere Lifecycle Manager (vLCM) mode on a VxRail cluster.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
Check out other resources

Instructions

VxRail has two life cycle management modes which are fully abstracted by the VxRail Application Programming Interface (API). In either mode, VxRail Manager orchestrates the full-stack update.

Here are the two modes:

  • Legacy LCM (ESXCLI) Mode: VxRail orchestrates life cycle management and the continually validated state using the ESXCLI.
  • vLCM Mode (Recommended): VxRail orchestrates life cycle management and the continually validated state using the VMware vSphere LCM (vLCM) API.

The table below highlights considerations, cautions, and key drivers for vLCM enablement on VxRail and unique considerations for VCF on VxRail.

Review carefully before enabling, either at deployment or after an upgrade.

Starting with VxRail 8.0.300, the default VxRail LCM mode during deployment is now set to vLCM mode to help prepare for future upgrades to version 9.0. This setting can be changed if the cluster is not vLCM-ready.

Review:
VxRail: Best Practices for vLCM in VxRail
 

Considerations and Cautions Key Drivers for vLCM mode Unique considerations for VCF on VxRail
  • New vSphere life cycle management features are being exposed and have continued support through vLCM API and not ESXCLI. For example:
    • QuickBoot
    • ESXi Live Patch
    • DPU LCM
    • Next node staging includes both firmware and ESXi
  • vLCM mode enablement is a prerequisite for 9.0 upgrades
  • vLCM enablement is an allowable option starting with VCF 5.1 on VxRail 8.0.210 during management and workload domain creation
  • Since version 5.1, it is supported to have both Legacy-LCM and vLCM workload domains (WLDs) within the same VCF instance. However, all clusters within a single WLD must use the same LCM mode—mixing Legacy and vLCM within a WLD is not permitted.
  • vLCM is enabled by default for the management and the workload domains with vSAN ESA
  • 2-node VMFS on FC cluster requires vLCM enabled
  • During VCF 5.x to VCF 9.x upgrade, vLCM enablement will be accounted for as part of the upgrade workflow

 

When enabling vLCM with VxRail, it is imperative that customers select and agree to add the VxRail self-signed certificate to the SSL Certificate folder on the VMware vCenter Server (Step 4 below). This step ensures seamless integration and prevents SSL-related validation issues.

Why is this important?

  • vCenter must recognize the VxRail self-signed certificate to allow secure communication between vLCM and VxRail Manager.
  • Failure to apply this certificate may prevent vLCM from functioning correctly or result in unexpected validation and upgrade failures.

What to do if this option is missing?

  • If the checkbox to agree to add the certificate is not visible during vLCM enablement, do not proceed.
  • Contact VMware or Dell VxRail Support immediately for assistance.
  • Proceeding without ensuring the proper certificate application may cause configuration issues and upgrade failures requiring manual intervention. By ensuring this step is completed, customers can avoid potential issues and ensure a smooth vLCM enablement process.

Steps:

  1. Log in to the vCenter UI. Go to the VxRail cluster plug-in the Updates panel and choose the SETTINGS tab. Before enabling vLCM, the VxRail LCM Mode is Legacy LCM (ESXCLI).
  2. Click the ENABLE VLCM MODE button to start the enablement.

    ENABLE VLCM MODE button in the vCenter UI
  3. Fill out vCenter User Credentials then click the VERIFY CREDENTIALS button.

    vCenter User Credentials form
  4. Check the I agree to add the VxRail self-signed certificate to the SSL Certificate folder on VMware vCenter Server box then click the APPLY AND VALIDATE button.

    Add Self-Signed Certification on VMware vCenter Server
  5. After the vCenter user credentials are verified as having passed, click the NEXT button to the Validate panel.

    vCenter user credentials verification
  6. Wait a moment to view the validated results.

    Validate results scan progress bar
  7. After the validation is completed, this message appears: This cluster is compliant with the defined desired state. Click the NEXT button to the Summary panel.

    This cluster is compliant with the defined desired state message
  8. Check the I want to update the components and enable vSphere Lifecycle Manager (vLCM) for this VxRail cluster box then click the ENABLE button.

    Update confirmation in the Summary menu
  9. Wait for the task to complete.

    Task progress bar
  10. Click the FINISH button after the UI shows vLCM was successfully enabled.

    vLCM success message
  11. Go back to the VxRail plug-in the Updates panel INTERNET UPDATES tab and confirm vLCM is enabled shows at the upper right corner, and the SETTINGS tab shows that LCM Mode is vLCM.

    Status shows the vLCM is enabled LCM Mode shows vLCM

 

Additional Information

To check if vLCM is enabled on VxRail 8.x clusters, using the VxRail Manager CLI, run:​​​

curl --unix-socket /var/lib/vxrail/nginx/socket/nginx.sock

 

  1. If there are third-party drivers installed on the ESXi hosts, such as NVIDIA vGPU driver, vLCM enablement may experience validation error and the drivers must be manually uploaded over UI.
  2. vLCM enable fails when using external vCenter 8.0 U3, see KB article VxRail: Enabling vLCM Fails When Using External vCenter 8.0 U3 (login required).
  3. vLCM enable fails when the host driver is higher than the cluster-matched version, see KB article Dell VxRail: Dial-home event code VXR108130 - vLCM enablement was failed (login required).

Affected Products

VxRail Software
Article Properties
Article Number: 000224993
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 23 Mar 2026
Version:  13
Find answers to your questions from other Dell users
Support Services
Check if your device is covered by Support Services.