About Azure Stack HCI upgrades

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Applies to: Azure Stack HCI, versions 23H2 and 22H2

Important

Azure Stack HCI, version 22H2 will reach end of service by May 2025. After that, you won't receive monthly security and quality updates that provide protection from the latest security threats. To continue receiving updates, we recommend updating your operating system to version 23H2.

If you're currently running an Azure Stack HCI, version 22H2 stretch cluster or managing Azure Stack HCI via System Center - Virtual Machine Manager, review the Supported workloads and configurations table for update timelines.

This article provides an overview of upgrading your existing Azure Stack HCI system from version 22H2 to version 23H2.

Throughout this article, we refer to Azure Stack HCI, version 23H2 as the new version and Azure Stack HCI, version 22H2 as the old version.

About Azure Stack HCI, version 23H2

Azure Stack HCI, version 23H2 is the latest version of the Azure Stack HCI solution. This version integrates the Azure Arc infrastructure that provisions and manages the workloads such as Arc VMs, Azure Kubernetes Services, and Azure Virtual Desktop. For more information, see What's new in Azure Stack HCI, version 23H2.

With version 23H2, Azure Stack HCI evolved from a cloud-connected operating system (OS) to an Arc-enabled solution. The OS forms the base layer of this solution, with the Arc and the Orchestrator (also known as the Lifecycle Manager) components layered on top. These components are packaged together into a solution that follows an Infrastructure as code (IaC) model.

  • This IaC model takes a set of input parameters that are specific to each customer and environment.
  • The lifecycle manager then orchestrates the desired state across all the layers to meet the desired state and version.

The following diagram illustrates the components of an Azure Stack HCI, version 23H2 system:

Diagram that illustrates Azure Stack HCI and its components.

Azure Stack HCI upgrade versus update

An upgrade is a whole new version of software that represents a significant change or major improvement. An update, on the other hand, is a process of applying a set of changes to the software to improve its performance, security, or stability.

Azure Stack HCI, version 23H2, is a whole new version of the solution with a multitude of new capabilities. To move from Azure Stack HCI, version 22H2 to version 23H2, you need to upgrade your existing cluster. On the other hand, to ensure that you have the most recent features and security improvements for your current version of Azure Stack HCI, you would need to update your existing cluster.

High-level steps for Azure Stack HCI upgrade

To upgrade your Azure Stack HCI from an old version, follow these high-level steps:

  1. Upgrade the old OS to the new OS using one of the following methods:

  2. Perform post-OS upgrade tasks.

  3. Validate the solution upgrade readiness.

  4. Apply the solution upgrade.

The following diagram illustrates the Azure Stack HCI upgrade process:

Diagram that illustrates the two steps to update the Azure Stack HCI OS and then apply the solution update.

Supported workloads and configurations

Azure Stack HCI upgrade supports the following services and workloads:

Workload/Configuration Currently supported
Azure Kubernetes (AKS) on Azure Stack HCI See notes
Kubernetes versions are incompatible between Azure Stack HCI, version 22H2, and version 23H2.
Remove AKS and all the settings from AKS enabled by Azure Arc before you apply the solution upgrade.
Arc VMs on Azure Stack HCI See notes
Preview versions of Arc VMs can't be upgraded.
Stretched clusters on Azure Stack HCI No
The OS upgrade to 23H2 and the solution upgrade are unavailable for stretched clusters.
System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) No
If your Azure Stack HCI, version 22H2 cluster is managed by SCVMM, this upgrade process isn't currently supported.
For more information on System Center 2025 release and Azure Stack HCI, version 23H2 support, see the announcement.
Azure Stack HCI, version 22H2SP No
This upgrade process isn't supported for upgrading from Azure Stack HCI, version 22H2 Supplemental Package clusters.

Next steps

Choose one of the following options to upgrade your Azure Stack HCI, version 22H2 to Azure Stack HCI, version 23H2: