Upgrading ESXi 4.1.0 to 5.5

[bedde]

Hi,

I recently got the task of doing an upgrade for a VMWare ESXi 4.1.0 (build 474610) server.

Accoding to the documentation, this upgrade can be done using the VMWare Upgrade Manager.

I was searching for the Upgrade Manager for ESXi 4.1.0 and have noticed that there is an Upgrade Manager 5.5.0 available.

Is this the current Upgrade Manager or is this specifically for ESXi 5.5??

Hope to hear from you guys soon.

Thanks in advance.

[BenLiebowitz]

If you have vCenter 4.1 then you'll need to upgrade it to vCenter 5.5, then you can upgrade Update Manager to 5.5 and once it's at 5.5, you can build an update baseline and use it to upgrade your host(s).  You'll need to move the VMs off to other hosts or power them off before you upgrade. 

I've always preferred doing a fresh install over an upgrade of ESXi, but that's personal preference and depends on your experience level.

Here are some links that may help.

VMware KB: Methods for upgrading to ESXi 5.5

upgrade vCenter from 4.1 to 5.5 best practice

[bedde]

Hi Ben,

Thanks for your reply.

I have been doing some reading of the articles you supplied.

The safe way to go, i.m.o., would be to use the Update Manager.

However, I found out that this is part of VMWare vCenter Server and I have not been able to find a trial.

Do you know if a trial version is available??

[rcporto]

Do you already vCenter Server managing your ESXi 4.1 host ? Or this hosts is a standalone installation of ESXi 4.1 ?

To use Update Manager you will need the vCenter Server... and if you don't have vCenter, you can still upgrade to ESXI 5.5 using the interactive installer, take a look: Upgrading to VMware ESXi 5.5 using the Interactive Installer | VMware Support Insider - VMware Blogs

[BenLiebowitz]

VCenter will run without a license in evaluation mode for 60 days.

[markzz]

I'd advise a clean install.. Do not upgrade, there are a good number of issues will have to deal with when upgrading that you don't have if you do a fresh install.

It take about 10 minutes to build an ESXi host.. Configuration of NIC's and Storage etc are something you will have to contend with but document the environment and it will go well.

[vmclouds]

Yes, I also second that. If you are going to ESXi 4.1 to 5.5 it is better to have an install than an upgrade. While upgrade using Update manager and CD or scripted will work.

[bedde]

Hi Richardson,

The VMWare Host is a stand-alone server.

I have been thinking to do a clean install, but the thing is, I have read on another forum that IBM uses a customized version of ESXi for their machines.

So an upgrade seems to be an obvious choice for me.

ESXi 4.1.0 does not have the Upgrade Manager, so I was thinking of using the one from version 5.x.

However, it is still not clear to me if vCenter Server is installed on a seperate Windows server or if vCenter Server will also become a VM Host...

[markzz]

Arr I see your saying you don't have a current support contract with VMWare or IBM???

Therefore you can't get the ESXi 5.5 u2 installation either IBM version or VMWare version

You really should check your server is on the VMWare HCL before you do this..

vCenter Server can be technically either on a physical piece of hardware or a guest on your ESxi Server.. But in your case I would not have it running as a VM guest.

[bedde]

Hey Guys!

I think I may have found the solution I was looking for.

I have been going through a lot of stuff here in the archive and may have found a VMWare 4.1.0 Installation CD that was included with the host.

The content shows that the Update Manager is on the CD.

Is it sufficient than to only install the update manager on a seperate physical server or workstation and perform the update for the host??

Or do I still need to install vCenter Server on a physical machine to perform the update for the host??

[markzz]

As far as I'm aware update manager is intended to integrate with vCenter. You can install it on a separate Windows server but it requires vCenter to operate.

Bedde

Do you have access to download the ESXi souce from VMWare as a licensed product?

If you upgrade 4.1 to 5x and you don't have a valid 5x license it will run in eval mode for 60days, after which you will have to revert to the free version.. (which may be OK depending on your requirements)

It would be helpful if you could answer the previous questions.

[bedde]

Mark,

Thanks for your reply.

I will have to ask to get more info.

But as I understand it, ESXi 4.1.0 was included in the hardware purchase, so that would mean that it is licensed to that product right?

And that that hardware is eligible for updates right?

[BenLiebowitz]

You are only eligible to upgrade of you have a valid maintenance contract for that license. Otherwise, as said above, you'll get the 60 day Eval and then have to downgrade to the free version (which is very limited.)