Any suggestions when migrating from ESX 4.0 to ESXi 4.1?

[ctw201110141]

Can we migrate from ESX 4.0 to ESXi 4.1 in a painless effort?  Any recommendations in maintaining all configs from ESX to convert to ESXi?

[DSTAVERT]

Nothing painless. ESXi is a total replacement. Migrate your VMs to another host and install. ESXi can install to USB or SD if your hardware supports it.

[DSTAVERT]

Unless you have host profiles available (Enterprise Plus) you will need to setup your host manually. Once you have one configured you can use one of William Lam's excellent scripts. http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-11969 to copy configurations to other ESXi hosts.

[ctw201110141]

What about all the network configs (virtual switch settings) that I have setup already on our two ESX 4 servers.  I am guessing I have to export those configs and import them when ESXi is up an running, correct?

[ctw201110141]

We do have vSphere Enterprise Plus.  So I should be able to export the ESX 4.0 host profile and import it to ESXi 4.1 with out any troubles?

Thanks for your help!

[DSTAVERT]

You will need to recreate them. Once you have one set up you will be able to use profiles to update the second one.

[DSTAVERT]

http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/techpaper/VMW-Host-Profiles-Tech-Overview.pdf

Have a look at page 25. You may be able to modify your existing profile to work with ESXi