Need to setup two new ESXi boxes and migrate vm's/configuration to them from old ESX 4.0 update 2 boxes

[jkoelker]

I have two brand new HP servers in which I will be installing the latest version of ESXi on each of them. I need to know what the correct steps are for migration of vm's from the current old ESX 4.0 update 2 servers to the new ESXi servers. Am I able to migrate network settings and configurations or does everything have to be setup from scratch again such as vlan information, etc... I fully assume I will be able to just build the ESXi server and then add each of them to the Vsphere server and then migrate the vm's? Correct? Any help is greatly appreciated.

[a_p_]

I doubt you can automate/migrate the configuration. There might be a chance to migrate some of the settings using host profiles (depending on your license). However, I would just configure the 2 hosts and storage (LUNs, masking, zoning) manually.

André

[DSTAVERT]

You can do some configuration with the following http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-11969 A Host profiles like tool from William Lam

You will need to upgrade to vCenter 4.1 first before you can add 4.1 hosts to a vCenter cluster. vCenter 4.1 can manage 4.0 hosts but a vCenter 4.0 can't manage 4.1 hosts.

[DSTAVERT]

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r41/vsp_41_upgrade_guide.pdf

[samansalehi]

I believe that the clean installation is the best practice for vsphere 4.

for migrating all the vm with all the configuration, i think using vmware convertet would help u.

if you want to migrate your live migration, just choose the power on machine and after it migrates, it just reboot once and work properly.

for more info to how migrate the VMs, i think this document would be helpful:

http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-14184

If this is useful, would u please mark it as "Helpful" or "Correct"?thank u

Saman

[LucasAlbers]

you could backup your 4.0x config:

http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/esx_3i_rcli/vicfg-cfgbackup.php

NOTE this includes the ip address!

You can only restore to the same version the config was backed up from.

ex:

Install 4.0x, restore config, then upgrade to 4.1.

[bggb29]

You can try the itql tool, I know it works with 4.01 and 4.1, Not sure about esxi. I use it to copy network setting .

All you need to do is create the vswitch, the tool will copy the port groups

[samansalehi]

Did the issue solve?

[jkoelker]

Well, I haven't been able to try and apply the answers given because our vendor did not give us a 64 bit server to install the ESXI os onto. I am waiting for the new servers and then can try these. Thanks for the all the help everyone. I will apply points to the correct answers though as I will come back to these when I receive the equipment.

[DSTAVERT]

Great. Keep us up to date. Document the steps you take and post back here as a document. Would be very helpful to others.

[samansalehi]

Thanks.