Updating ESXi 5.0.0, 504890

[eversys]

I have a ESXi 5.0.0, 504890 host installed on a SD card and the setup is not complex. The datastore hosting the VMs is on a internal RAID10 array. We do not have vCenter or vMotion and only use vSphere for VMware management. I would like to update to the newest ESXi 5.5 version.

My thoughts were a completely new installation of ESXi 5.5 on a new SD card and then import the VMs from the datastore - will this work OK? My fall-back is the old SD card or are the VM files changed when added to the 5.5 inventory?

Thanks for your feedback.

Oliver

[rcporto · Accepted solution]

Since the VMs are on the local datastore, I will recommend you make a in-place upgrade and this way you will preserve all VM and configurations.

[eversys]

When I look at all the different types of updates I can download, it is overwhelming. Hence, I thought that it would be quicker to install a fresh 5.5 and either the setup finds my current VMs or I add them to the inventory.

[rcporto]

This blog post may guide you: Upgrading to VMware ESXi 5.5 using the Interactive Installer | VMware Support Insider - VMware Blogs

[JPM300]

Like Richard said you can download the 5.5 iso and do an in-place-upgrade.  When you boot off the 5.5 iso disk it will scan your local SD drive and see the 5.0 installation.  It will then prompt you to upgrade or do a fresh install.

I hope this has helped