VMware Cloud Community
pstoric
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Upgrade Dell PE2900 from 5.5 to 6.x?

I want to upgrade our single ESXi host to the newest version of ESXi possible but I’ve only done this with newer Dell servers that have the customized images for the specific model. They made it very easy but in this case I cannot do that as this is an older server (Dell PE2900) so there is no ESXi customized image on their site.

  1. What’s the newest version I can upgrade to on that box (ESXi and vCenter Server Appliance)
  2. Do I need to change anything with the license if I can upgrade to 6.x?
  3. How do I know the correct drivers will be included in the newer version? Is there a compatibility checker?
  4. What’s my install order again? I think it was to upgrade Vcenter server appliance first, the ESXi. I know the vpshere client has been depreciated in the newer version

Thanks in advance!

Here is the current version:

Capture.PNG

Reply
0 Kudos
9 Replies
daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal

The PowerEdge 2900 series is not supported past vSphere 5.5, and I've seen issues going to 6.x so you might not want to make that leap.

Reply
0 Kudos
pstoric
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Thanks. Can I safely upgrade to 5.5 u3f?

Reply
0 Kudos
daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal

Yes, that is fine to do.

Reply
0 Kudos
pstoric
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Great. I see an ISO, and OVA and OVF. Which would I need? It's the server appliance FYI so it's not running within Windows

Reply
0 Kudos
daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal

If you're running the vCSA already, you'll just need to update that appliance using the update repo which is published as an ISO from what you're seeing.

Reply
0 Kudos
pstoric
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Hmm I grabbed the ISO "VMware-VIMSetup-all-5.5.0-6520252-20170901-update03" but it seemed like it wanted to install it on my laptop and not upgrade the in place appliance

Reply
0 Kudos
daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal

That ISO contains the ESXi binaries and not the vCSA.

Reply
0 Kudos
pstoric
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I just noticed that. Downloading "VMware-vCenter-Server-Appliance-5.5.0.30600-6521191-updaterepo.iso" now. Will try to update tomorrow

Reply
0 Kudos
nponeccop
Contributor
Contributor

Note that the latest version of ESXi 5.5 is Imageprofile ESXi-5.5.0-20180104001-standard (Build 7504623) so you probably should upgrade ESXi one more time after upgrading to u3f (which is build 65xxxxx)

Reply
0 Kudos