Project Photon OS
https://vmware.github.io/photon/
Photon OS is a Linux based, open source, security-hardened, enterprise grade appliance operating system that is purpose built for Cloud and Edge applications.
It can be a real challenge for customers to keep track of the different versions of Photon OS that are used in the products offered. Time and time again, I find that customers ask during my TAM calls: “Which Photon version is used in this product?” Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive overview that lists all products with the corresponding Photon OS versions.
For this very reason, I believe it’s high time to change that! I want to create a central resource where information about the different Photon versions is presented clearly and concisely.
If you notice that a particular product is missing from this overview, please don’t hesitate to contact me! Your feedback is invaluable and helps me to expand this database. If you have information about older versions, I would be very grateful if you could leave a comment with the product name and version number. If we work together, we can build a more comprehensive database that will benefit not only you, but other users as well.
So let’s work together to promote transparency and knowledge sharing in our community!
| Product | Version | Photon OS (Build Number) |
|---|---|---|
| vSphere | 7.x | 3 |
| vSphere | 8.x | 4 (2f5aad892) |
| Skyline Health Diagnostic | 4.0.x | 3 (05f9d3d8d) |
| SDDC Manager | 5.2.0.0 | 4 (2f5aad892) |
| Aria Suite Lifecycle Manager | 8.18.0 (PSP 8.18.0.2) | 3 (05f9d3d8d) |
| Aria Operations | 8.18.x | 5 (9e778f409) |
| Aria Operations for Logs | 8.18.x | 4 (2f5aad892) |
| Aria Automation | 8.18.0 | 4 (2f5aad892) |
| Access (AKA VIDM) | 3.3.7 | 3 (05f9d3d8d) |
How do I get the version number?
The version number is documented in /etc/photon-release. If the appliance is already installed, it is sufficient to connect to the appliance via SSH and query the version with a short “cat /etc/photon-release”. If you don’t have the version yet, hopefully my overview will help you or you could use a VMware Hands-on Lab that uses the corresponding version.
cat /etc/photon-release
What can I do if the Photon OS Version is EOL?
Customers do not need to worry about PhotoOS support, they just need to worry about vCenter or vSphere support. It’s our (VMware’s) responsibility to take care of the Photon OS.
https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/301489/faq-end-of-support-for-photon-os-on-vcen.html
When we are talking about VMware Appliances, there’s generally nothing you need to do as long as the Appliance is still supported. VMware takes care of the Photon OS for you, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and securely. It is important to note that updating the Photon OS on your own is not supported; any updates are managed by VMware to maintain system integrity.
However, if you are using an unsupported Appliance, it’s crucial that you take the necessary steps to update it. This responsibility falls on you, as maintaining an unsupported Appliance may expose you to security vulnerabilities and performance issues.
On the other hand, if we are discussing your own machine that runs Photon OS, you will need to follow a specific guide to update it effectively. This guide will provide you with the necessary instructions and steps to ensure your system remains up-to-date and functions optimally: