Hi,
I'm looking to start using VCSA 6.7 but we have an existing Windows vCenter Server 6.5. I understand that there is no supported migration path for this which is OK as I'd like to build VCSA 6.7 as a "fresh start".
I have 4 * ESXi, 6.5.0, 15256549 hosts in a cluster and was planning to disconnect one host. Install ESXi 6.7 U3 on it and the setp VCSA 6.7 as a guest and get things going. Then the plan was to migrate some non-production guest to it and test and then over time do the same to all the other hosts.
Is a plausible and supported way of moving forward?
regards.
For sure there is a migration way. Yes you can migrate from Windows based vCenter to the vCenter Appliance (VCSA). If you installed tons of other Software/Application on the Windows server than you got the problem after the migration is finished because the VCSA takes over FQHN, IP address and shutdown the old Windows server.
Regards,
Joerg
Hi,
as he has already answered IRIX201110141 you can migrate from Windwos vcenter server to VCSA
ARomeo
Apologies, I meant to write that we have vCenter 6.7.
Hello,
If you are on vCenter 6.7 windows then only migration option available is to go to 7.0 appliance.
If you plan to stay in 6.7 but run with appliance instead of windows then you may have to install vCenter 6.7 as a new instance and recreate datacenter,clusters and add the hosts manually.
Environment:
Four ESXi 6.5 running on build 15256549
Here is the action plan:
What you will lose:
All the tasks, events and performance charts for host sand VMs
All the tags, folders, permissions basically every custom setting that was applied on the 6.7 windows vCenter
If you have EVC mode set or distributed switch, things might require a different approach.
Let me know if this helped.
Hi Jonathan,
We currently use a single distributed switch.
EVC mode is not enabled.
vCenter is on 6.7.0 Build 11727065
You can export the vDS setup and import it into a new/other vCenter. After that you can pickup the host into new vCenter. If you shutdown the old vCenter no other actions need to be taken.
If your Backup/Monitoring/Stuff is vCenter 7.0 ready i would go the normal migration way and let the hosts stay on current version but only apply the latest patches. If your hosts a certified for 6.7/7.0 you can upgrade them. Because of the lack of support(Backup, Storage Plugins,....) for 7.0 none of my customers use 7.0 right now.
Regards,
Joerg
Thanks Joerg,
We'd be moving our hosts to 6.7 U3 and therefore the VCSA to the same as that is what the Dell hosts support.
Great. Check if you have lastest OMSA 9.4 for 6.7 installed on your Hosts at the end. They also new stuff like iDRACtools.
Regards,
Joerg
What I've done is on the old host (call it .15), I've moved all my VMs to a standard switch. I've then disconnected this host in the "old" vCenter. On the new VCSA 6.7 I've then selected to add this old host but get the notoifcation of "Hosts will enter maintenance mode before they are moved to the cluster. You might need to either power off or migrate powered on and suspended virtual machines."
The notification is a bit ambiguous does it mean the VMs will be powered off?