How do you update the vCenter Server?

[Andrew800]

I have a VM in my vSphere environment running Windows Server 2008 R2 that has update manager installed on it and is my vCenter Server installation also.  After scanning it with Update Manager, it showed it needed to upgrade the VMware Tools to match the host and also needed to upgrade the VM hardware to also match the host.  I upgraded the tools successfully, but when I tried to remediate the VM for the hardware, I got the following error:

"VM [VM Name] has either VMware vSphere Update Manager or VMware vCenter Server installed.  This VM will be ignored for scan and remediation."

So how do I get around this since I'm using this VM to also patch/update the other hosts/VMs and it's  my vCenter installation?

[markdjones82]

I would login to the host directly with the client and upgrade your Vcenter guest from there.

[Andrew800]

But when you log into the host directly, you lose the ability to run Update Manager. Correct?  How do you update the VM hardware in that case?

[markdjones82]

Power off the VM and right click, there is an option to "upgrade virtual hardware"

[Andrew800]

I know it's supposed to be right under the 'Migrate...' option on that menu, but I don't see that option logging in through vCenter nor the host directly and right clicking any of the hosts, even the one powered off.  The other VMs have already been upgraded to vmx9 so even if they are powered off would I still see the option, perhaps grayed out?  The only possible thing I can think of is powering the vCenter Server VM down, logging into the host directly (no other choice..?) and then right-clicking the VM while powered off to see if it then appears on the menu.  But since it's not appearing anywhere else, I'd rather not shut it down unless I'm sure that menu option will be available.  Why don't I see it?

[markdjones82 · Accepted solution]

Yes, it must be powered down. So your only option in this instance is to log in to host, shut down Vcenter and then right click upgrade.  Unfortunately that is your only option

[Andrew800]

Thanks. I logged into the host the VM was on directly and powered off the VM (shut down the guest).  The option did appear after I shut it down, and I was successfully able to upgrade the VM hardware from there.