Upgrading ESX 4.1 to ESXI 5.1

[sbroskey]

We are currently using ESX 4.1 and would like to upgade to ESXI 5.1. Are there any upgrade instructions available via video or documentation? Also, how does the new licensing work as far as CPU and Memory usage in ESXI 5.1. What are the advantages of upgrading to 5.1?

Thanks,

Scott

[elgreco81 · Accepted solution]

Hi Scott,

Check this:

http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/techpaper/VMware-vSphere-50-Upgrade-Best-Practices-Technical-White-P...

http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/techpaper/VMware-vSphere-50-Upgrade-Checklists.pdf

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=203275...

In ESXi 5.1, this link will give you a fast way to see licensing limitations. By the way, as a rule 1 physical processor = 1 license (no cores nor vRAM limitations).

http://www.vmware.com/products/datacenter-virtualization/vsphere/compare-editions.html

In advantages, first, the fact of changing from ESX to ESXi. You will get a smaller and more secure hypervisor.

From the version upgrade from 4.1 to 5.1, it will depend on which version you have...for instance, if now you are using "advantage" you will have "enterprise" in version 5.1 as advantage licenses don't longer exist.

Then you have a lot of new technologies available, a better HA technology that uses datastore heartbeats, you have more features like VSA, vSphere replication, improved features like Data Protection instead of Data Recovery...and the list just goes on. Ohhh, you also have VMFS5 which is more flexible and optimized than VMFS3 (ATS instead of lun level blocks, only 1 block size, bigger datastore capacities, etc etc)

Be aware that when upgrading service console ports will be transformed to management ports (maybe you'll have to activate HA on those manually later). Take care if you are using third party agents as maybe they don't work in new hypervisor, check your scripts in case you have them as some commands no longer exist, no VCB anymore, update manager won't let you patch your VMs. So, read carefully the upgrade guides

Best regards and good luck!!!

elgreco81

[sbroskey]

This is great information thank you. But, I still have a question about licenses. We are using Essentials Plus 4.1 packet which allows me to add as many processors to my VM's as I choose. I beleive each VM processor is a core seeing that I have two physical processors on my host server. Both equalling 24 cores combined. Under the 5.1 licensing scheme will I be able to add say 4 processors to a VM and is there any limitation to the amount of processors being used on my VM's and or memory usage other than what the host server has physically?

Example: I have two Windows 2008 R2 VM and each VM is configured with 4 processors or i believe 4 cores out of the 24 cores within the 2 physical processors combined. Will I still be able to maintain that configuration without an issue or will the new licensing scheme limit me. I can't afford to loose processing power nor can I afford to have a limitation on memory with my VM's.

My host servers have two processors a peice, will the 5.1 upgrade support those processors under the Essentials Plus package or does 5.1 limit my usage under the new licensing scheme? I'm jsut a bit confused about how the new licensing works and whether I will lose the ability to configure my VM's the way I need them.

Thanks,

Scott

[Lawrie201110141]

If you look at this link you can see what your entiltment would be for essentials + http://www.vmware.com/products/datacenter-virtualization/vsphere/compare-kits.html

The basics:-

• Support for 3 servers each with 2 Physical CPU's installed cores are irrelevant
• You can provision a VM with up to 8 vCPUs
• No restrictions on RAM or vRAM

The Features:-

• vSphere Hypervisor
• Thin Provisioning
• Update Manager
• vStorage APIs for Data Protection
• vCenter Operations Manager Foundation
• Data Protection
• High Availability
• vMotion
• vShield Zones
• vShield Endpoint
• vSphere Replications