Replacing Virtual Center Server

[Allsopp]

I will be adding several more host servers and upgrading to the latest version of VI3 early next year, as well as adding more memory to existing hosts.

Part of this upgrade is the replacement of the VC server with newer hardware, which needs to be done without shutting down the host servers of VM's

Beyond backing up the database and restoring it to the new server, and having the license files on hand, are there any other problems I could encounter?

Should I upgrade VC to the latest version on the existing server first and then backup the database?

Are there any guides available for this procedure?

Any information would be welcome.

[MR-T]

Assuming you're using a supported database version on the current release, I'd just take a backup & then perform an upgrade to VC 2.5

At least this way you've got your layout in-place and the historical data available.

There's nothing else to worry about which I can think of.

Just make sure when you run the upgrade you answer the question correctly which asks if you want to remove the existing data.

[Allsopp]

I'm running SQL 2000 on the backend so that won't be a problem.

The real question is...

I am replacing the VC server. So will this procedure work without causing any interruption to the running clusters.

upgrade the old server first

then back up the database

install the new VC server on the new hardware

install SQL and VC

restore the database.

[Dave_Mishchenko]

As mentioned, during the VC install you'll have an option to use an existing database, so you'll either want to upgrade VC before you swap servers or install the same version onto the new server and then upgrade later.

The hosts will be tied to the VC server by IP address, so if you can it'll be easiest to install the new host with the same IP address. Otherwise you'll have to reconnect all of your hosts.

If the VC tables were created in the master database, this would also be a good time to move them to a seperate database.

[MR-T · Accepted solution]

All virtual machines will continue to run throughout this operation.

HA will be fully functional if used.

However, will the new VC have the same IP address & hostname?

Hosts are very fussy if the IP address of VC changes.

You'll need to follow these steps ( I think)

1) backup existing VC database

2) upgrade existing VC database to new version

3) Install SQL on new server

4) Restore database to the new server

5) Install VC on the new server and point at the new database (Maybe complete this with network cable out, so hosts are contacted by 2 VC's)

6) Switch off old VC & DB & plug in cable for new server