This article provides customers who purchased vSphere add-on for Kubernetes (renamed to Tanzu Basic) and want to upgrade their vSphere 7.0 deployment to vSphere 7.0.1 instructions on how they can transition their vSphere add-on for Kubernetes license keys to Tanzu Basic license keys through an upgrade process detailed below.

Note: This article is not relevant for customers who purchased vSphere add-on for Kubernetes but do not plan to upgrade from vSphere 7.0 deployment to vSphere 7.0.1 or customers who purchased Tanzu Basic after October 5, 2020.

Cause:

On April 2, 2020, VMware announced the introduction of vSphere 7.0. As part of this release, the product vSphere add-on for Kubernetes was introduced. Between April 2, 2020, and October 5, 2020, vSphere add-on for Kubernetes was fulfilled with three license keys:

1. vSphere 7 Enterprise Plus with Kubernetes for 1 processor.
2. Hybrid Infrastructure Services for VMware vSphere add-on for Kubernetes (Per CPU).
3. Tanzu Kubernetes Grid for VMware vSphere add-on for Kubernetes (Per CPU).

The vSphere 7 Enterprise Plus with Kubernetes license key resulted from an upgrade of a vSphere 7 Enterprise Plus license key and was utilized to entitle both vSphere Enterprise Plus and Tanzu Basic functionality when assigned to a vSphere host. The other two license keys were unused.

With the introduction of vSphere 7.0.1, vSphere add-on for Kubernetes has been rebranded to Tanzu Basic. The licensing has been simplified. Starting October 6, 2020, a purchase of Tanzu Basic fulfills a single Tanzu Basic license key. Assigning a Tanzu Basic license key to a Supervisor Cluster entitles Tanzu Basic Functionality.

Due to this licensing change, when a vSphere 7.0 deployment is upgraded to vSphere 7.0.1, the Tanzu functionality of the Supervisor Cluster will revert to 60-day evaluation mode because vSphere Enterprise Plus with Kubernetes license key only entitles vSphere Enterprise Plus functionality in the 7.0.1 release, not Tanzu functionality. A Tanzu Basic license key must be added to vCenter Server and assigned to existing Supervisor Clusters within 60 days to maintain full Tanzu Basic functionality.

Customers who purchased vSphere add-on for Kubernetes between April 2, 2020, and October 5, 2020, and upgrade from vSphere 7.0 to vSphere 7.0.1 can upgrade “Hybrid Infrastructure Services for VMware vSphere add-on for Kubernetes (Per CPU)” license key (2) to a Tanzu Basic license key in Customer Connect portal. The upgrade will keep the expiration date of the term license and the quantity purchased unchanged.

1. Login to Customer Connect.
2. Select Accounts > License Keys from the top left-hand side of the Customer Connect homepage or Manage Licenses Quick Link option in the middle of the Customer Connect homepage.

       Alternatively, when you receive an alert for subscription upgrade, click Upgrade Licenses in the alert. This takes you to the License Keys page.

3. Select By Product tab on the License Keys page.
4. Select I want to Upgrade License Keys.

        Note: If no products appear, you may not have permission to upgrade license keys or there may not be any license keys available for upgrade.

5. Filter on “Hybrid” in the Product column and select “Hybrid Infrastructure Services for VMware vSphere add-on for Kubernetes (Per CPU)”.
6. Select desired license keys and quantities to transition to Tanzu Basic and click Continue. 
7. You will see a screen that confirms the product you are going to receive after the upgrade and the quantity. Review to optionally edit the quantities and click Continue.
8. Finally, check the box to indicate that you have read and understood the warning, then click Confirm.