Update Guest OS Version

[Farouk1]

Hello All, 

I have a question about Vmware guest OS version:

We have updated our Esxi and Vcenter to v7.0.3

All our Vms are now up to date in Vmware tools and Vmware Hardware but our Guest OS Version not.

I tried to find a way to update our Guest OS version from 2016 to win 2019 server without shuting down our servers ...

Hope to find a solution cause it concern about 1600+ vms 😞

Thanks guys

[Zsoldier]

I'm not aware that is possible via standard methods.  You could maybe update the configuration file, but that is a lot of work for little gain.

I wouldn't worry about it.

Change the Configured Guest Operating System (vmware.com) < Describes what that setting does.

[Farouk1]

Yes I know that is not a standard method but I think that it's possible to make it without shut down the vm and changing to the correct OS version.

If it was for 10vms why not but in my case more than 1000 vms it's not possible.

Plus we have a Vcheck running every day that report errors on guest OS.

I tried to change it on powercli but it ask the vm to be shutdown, in my case we only have a reboot every week-end maybe a solution that can write the good Guest OS version then waiting the reboot to be done i don't know.  

[wetnose88]

Please take a look of this 

https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-PowerCLI-Discussions/How-to-change-Guest-OS-type-using-powe...

[Zsoldier]

I think it 'used' to be possible, but the current cmdlet set doesn't allow it.  I agree it would be nice if it would 'stage' the change for next reboot, but I think that is problematic because I don't think it actually plays a role until you reboot the VM itself (not just the guest OS reboot).

vCheck may need to be updated to read what the VMware tools report instead.  What plugin in vCheck complains?

[LucD]

I did reply to your same question in the other thread.
Please don't cross-post

[Farouk1]

Hello, 

I wanted to create a specific post to not reopen an old discussion my bad.

So if I understand there are no solutions to update Guest os Version on multiple vms without shuting down the vm?

Thanks

[LucD]

Correct.
It used to be possible with older vSphere versions, but not anymore I'm afraid

[Farouk1]

All right,

So is there any issue if I don't update guest OS version or it's just cosmetic?

Actually vmware tools report me the correct guest OS but not in the settings.

[LucD]

Depending on what you define as the Guest OS, vSphere will propose some settings when you create a VM.
But if you configure your VMs yourself (memory, CPU, disk, ...) that has no real impact afaik.

[Farouk1]

Yes Vms are created by ourselves with a script with specific numbers of CPU, mem, disk depending of the environment and criticality.

[LucD · Accepted solution]

Then you should be safe with a GuestId that doesn't match the actual Guest OS.

[Farouk1]

Hello LucD, Zsoldier, 

Thanks a lot for the reply, (sorry a wasn't connected these days), I hope Vmware will bring back the option to do it like the older versions of vsphere.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer me again, have a nice day guys.

[Farouk1]

Open for those are interested.

[thestroeb]

I would say that it isn't a matter of being safe but it is a matter of VMs reporting the correct OS.  VMware should fix this.