VMware Upgrade path from 5.x to 6.x

[Andrew800]

What are the licensing requirements for upgrading VMware vCenter Server / vSphere / ESXi from 5.x to 6.x?  Are new licenses required for this or is this just an upgrade to a newer version?

Also what would be the best sequence of the upgrades? (ex: ESXi first, vCenter second, etc)

[SureshKumarMuth]

You have to purchase licenses for new version of vsphere. Example if you are having license for ESXi 5.x ,it can be used for version 5.0/.1/5.5 not for 6.x, you have to upgrade your license. Contact vmware license for pricing and offers.

Regarding upgrade path, if you have only vCenter and ESXi servers then the sequence would be , vCenter server and its components (PSC, vCenter server, Update manager) once you complete them you can start upgrading the ESXi servers using update manager or other upgrade options.

If you have any other solution integrated with vCenter like (SRM/ vDP or other solutions) , please check the respective solution guide /KB  to find the sequence.

following link will be helpful for you to find more details

VMware Product Interoperability Matrices  select upgrade path in the page and then solution

[a_p_]

Are new licenses required for this or is this just an upgrade to a newer version?

As mentioned before, each major version requires it's own license keys. Anyway, if you have an active subscription, or even had an active subscription when vSphere 6 went GA, you may be eligible for a free upgrade. The easiest way to check this is to login to your MyVMware portal, and select "Upgrade" from the license page, and see which licenses keys show up as upgradable.

André