ESX 302u1 & VC 201 upgrade ESX3.5&VC2.5

[tsd_david]

Dear all,

I have existing 2x ESX 3.0.2 Update 1 with Virtual Center 2.0.1 installed (MSDE) The VM Datacenter has been setup with VMwareHA and VMotion. Now I would like to upgrade ESX 3.5 and Virtual Center 2.5 and I have the problem and question as the following. Please kindly to give me the advice. Thanks!

1) When setup Virtual Center 2.5 on a computer which is already running Virtual Center 2.0.1, I found it need to setup MS SQL 05 Express instead of MSDE. After the SQL05Express set up, I found the database is empty. How can I upgrade the existing datacenter from VC 2.0.1 to VC 2.5?

2) Currently I have Datacenter setup with capability on VMotion and VMwareHA. If I demote (just delete the existing Datacenter) to become two standalone ESX. What happen of the Virtual Machine will shutdown while demote? or still running while I am demoting?

3) The pair of ESX 3.0.2u1 are connecting to the same SAN with the same LUN. I have 5 VM, 3VM in ESX#1, 2VM in ESX#2. Can I stop all VM in ESX#2 and start those on ESX#1 while I am upgrading ESX#2 to ESX 3.5?

4) After ESX#2 has been upgraded, Can I start those 5 VM on ESX#2 and perform upgrade on ESX#1?

Thanks for your kindly help and read my dump questions.

-david

[Mr_Flibble1 · Accepted solution]

To fix your database, take a look at this thread:

http://communities.vmware.com/thread/75259

For upgrading look here:

http://www.vmware.com/support/vi3/doc/releasenotes_esx301_vc201.html#upgrading

and:

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_301_201_installation_guide.pdf

[tsd_david]

Dear Mr. Flibble,

Thanks for your help. For in place upgrade issue on Virtual Center, I found two anwsers, MSDE upgrade to SQL 2000 is work but SQL 2005 & detect MSDE DB then attach to SQL 2005. So that I still looking for the official document from VMware to proven and backup me to perform this upgrade.

For the release note I can't find any document describe the possible case affect if I stop to use VC and

-david

[tsd_david]

Dear all,

I got it work to migrate in place on VC 2 to 2.5 by

http://communities.vmware.com/thread/75259

Now the new VC 2.5 has been installed and retain my existing datacenter and work with vmotion and ha.

1) What is the next step and upgrade the ESX2 then ESX1 one by one (by VMware-esx-upgrade-from-esx3-3.5.0-64607.zip)?

2) all VM now are running on ESX1. After ESX2 upgraded to ESX 3.5, can I use VC to migrade the ESX1 vm to ESX2 (3.0.2 vs 3.5)?

Thanks! -david

[Mr_Flibble1]

Your last post is a bit broken up there, you might want to read this:

http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-1070

Before posting questions, you will get answers faster!

[tsd_david]

Thanks for your help!