VMware Cloud Community
vinod_sikka
Enthusiast
Enthusiast
Jump to solution

Migrating vcenter to another machine

I have a virtual center running with 5.1 version and build a new virtual center with 5.5 U1a. I would like to move all objects including alarms, permissions assigned, inventory, schedule tasks and DRS rules.Kindly let me know how can I achieve this.

Thanks,

Reply
0 Kudos
1 Solution

Accepted Solutions
Anjani_Kumar
Commander
Commander
Jump to solution

Hi Vinod,

Use Inventory Snapshot for this.

Download : InventorySnapshot – VMware Labs

Documentation : Virtualization is future: How to Use the Inventory Snapshot for vSphere


All the best,

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you found it useful.

Anjani Kumar

-----------------------------------------

VMware, Windows

Consulant

Email ID : Anjani.kumar@vmwareminds.com

Website :   http://www.Vmwareminds.com

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you found it useful. Anjani Kumar | VMware vExpert 2014-2015-2016 | Infrastructure Specialist Twitter : @anjaniyadav85 Website : http://www.Vmwareminds.com

View solution in original post

Reply
0 Kudos
15 Replies
abhilashhb
VMware Employee
VMware Employee
Jump to solution

Have you already built it? Can you use the older DB to retain the configurations?

Abhilash B
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhilashhb/

Reply
0 Kudos
Anjani_Kumar
Commander
Commander
Jump to solution

Hi Vinod,

Use Inventory Snapshot for this.

Download : InventorySnapshot – VMware Labs

Documentation : Virtualization is future: How to Use the Inventory Snapshot for vSphere


All the best,

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you found it useful.

Anjani Kumar

-----------------------------------------

VMware, Windows

Consulant

Email ID : Anjani.kumar@vmwareminds.com

Website :   http://www.Vmwareminds.com

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you found it useful. Anjani Kumar | VMware vExpert 2014-2015-2016 | Infrastructure Specialist Twitter : @anjaniyadav85 Website : http://www.Vmwareminds.com
Reply
0 Kudos
Borja_Mari
Virtuoso
Virtuoso
Jump to solution

Hello,

if you want to change the machine that runs vcenter, you can migrate to another machine:

VMware KB: Migrating vCenter Server to a different host machine

and then upgrade from 5.1 to 5.5:

VMware KB: Upgrading to vCenter Server 5.5 best practices

Best regards,

Pablo

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE CONSIDER AWARDING any HELPFUL or CORRECT reply. Thanks!! Por favor CONSIDERA PREMIAR cualquier respuesta ÚTIL o CORRECTA . ¡¡Muchas gracias!! VCP3, VCP4, VCP5-DCV (VCP550), vExpert 2010, 2014 BLOG: http://communities.vmware.com/blogs/VirtuallyAnITNoob
Reply
0 Kudos
vinod_sikka
Enthusiast
Enthusiast
Jump to solution

Hi Abhilashh,

Apparently, both vCenter 5.1 and 5.5 are in use in a way. All existing ESXi hosts & VMs are currently running from 5.1 vCenter so can not point one DB to two vCenter. It is more like a parallel migration while keeping both in production for a while till all stuff move over from 5.1 to 5.5.

Reply
0 Kudos
vinod_sikka
Enthusiast
Enthusiast
Jump to solution

Hi Anjali,

Thank you so much for sharing this, it looks quite impressive. I marked your reply as helpful for now. I will test it in my environment and hopefully it will work and I would change your response to correct answer.

Thank you so much for your help, Vinod

Reply
0 Kudos
vinod_sikka
Enthusiast
Enthusiast
Jump to solution

Hello Pablo,

Thank you for taking your time to answer me!

Articles you shared would be helpful if I simply switch from one server to another with all stuff over. However, in my case, my one VC is running with 5.1 and a new build VC is installed with 5.5 and now I have a situtaion to migrate all stuff from 5.1 to 5.5.

Thanks, V

Reply
0 Kudos
Borja_Mari
Virtuoso
Virtuoso
Jump to solution

Hello,

if you want to migrate the alarms, take a look to this:

VMware KB: Restoring and copying vCenter Server alarms

If you want to migrate roles and permissions, check this (AFAIK, tested at 5.1):

http://blog.vmote.net/?p=261

Obviously, you will run the above scripts, at your own risk.

I would recommend you to backup the vcenter 5.5 database, just for security Smiley Wink

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE CONSIDER AWARDING any HELPFUL or CORRECT reply. Thanks!! Por favor CONSIDERA PREMIAR cualquier respuesta ÚTIL o CORRECTA . ¡¡Muchas gracias!! VCP3, VCP4, VCP5-DCV (VCP550), vExpert 2010, 2014 BLOG: http://communities.vmware.com/blogs/VirtuallyAnITNoob
vinod_sikka
Enthusiast
Enthusiast
Jump to solution

Hi Anjani,

Inventory snapshot tool worked. However when I ran the tool, on 3rd tab of "Inventory Tree" I do not find commit Changes button as shown in attached image. I wanted to select a Cluster for migration and then hit to commit changes, however there is no button so only option I had to migrate everything from vcenter to another. Do you know how can it be work around or can you try it at your end and see how it work.

InvenSnap.jpg

Thanks, V

Reply
0 Kudos
Anjani_Kumar
Commander
Commander
Jump to solution

Okay. i will check it again . and let you know Vinod.

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you found it useful. Anjani Kumar | VMware vExpert 2014-2015-2016 | Infrastructure Specialist Twitter : @anjaniyadav85 Website : http://www.Vmwareminds.com
Reply
0 Kudos
vinod_sikka
Enthusiast
Enthusiast
Jump to solution

Hi Anjani,

Did you check the inven. snapshot thing?

Reply
0 Kudos
Anjani_Kumar
Commander
Commander
Jump to solution

Hi vinod,

I tested this tool in my vmware environment and it works like a charm.

As i can see in your snapshot you didnt selected anything in your vcenter . select all the check box you want for your vcenter and den go to "generate new powercli code" . it will generate the snapshot for your virtual center.

attaching the screenshot.

1.jpg

2.jpg

All the best,

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you found it useful.

Anjani Kumar

-----------------------------------------

VMware, Windows

Consulant

Email ID : Anjani.kumar@vmwareminds.com

Website :   http://www.Vmwareminds.com

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you found it useful. Anjani Kumar | VMware vExpert 2014-2015-2016 | Infrastructure Specialist Twitter : @anjaniyadav85 Website : http://www.Vmwareminds.com
Reply
0 Kudos
vinod_sikka
Enthusiast
Enthusiast
Jump to solution

Hi Anjani,

Please see the difference between following two attached screen shots:

a.) Problematic:-

In below screen shot, under "Inventory tree" tab, I do not see "Commit Changes" button which allows you to select hosts as per wish for restoration rather picking all inventory. If you read the right hand side section of below screen shot, it also says select and click on committ changes button below but actually button is missing.

problematic.jpg

Now please refer this screen shot which I copied from a website, please see highlighed in red box in below screenshot. it should be like this :-

correct-one.jpg

Please let me know how can i get this one correctly.

Thanks, V

Reply
0 Kudos
Anjani_Kumar
Commander
Commander
Jump to solution

After looking in to your screenshot seems like your window is not able to accept the changes on it. do one thing make your system resolution more higher. or change your workstation with high resolution desktop. and than follow the same steps.

No any issue is there. as this script works on Read-Only account as well without any issue. try this and let me know if issue fix.

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you found it useful. Anjani Kumar | VMware vExpert 2014-2015-2016 | Infrastructure Specialist Twitter : @anjaniyadav85 Website : http://www.Vmwareminds.com
Reply
0 Kudos
vinod_sikka
Enthusiast
Enthusiast
Jump to solution

I tried on 3-4 windows 2008 r2 servers but seeing the same thing. I tried playing with resolution too. can you please confirm if you are able to see the "committ changes" tab on your system.

Reply
0 Kudos
Anjani_Kumar
Commander
Commander
Jump to solution

yeah. this is possible. try with windows 7 with updated java on it .

i can see the commit changes button on my system. and my environment having both 5.1 and 5.5 esxi servers.

Sometimes the inventory snapshot windows will not appear in windows 7 or 8 etc. in this case use the " InventorySnapshot1.1" executable jar file directly. it will help you out to not be in trouble. thanks

All the best,

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you found it useful.

Anjani Kumar

-----------------------------------------

VMware, Windows

Consulant

Email ID : Anjani.kumar@vmwareminds.com

Website :   http://www.Vmwareminds.com

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you found it useful. Anjani Kumar | VMware vExpert 2014-2015-2016 | Infrastructure Specialist Twitter : @anjaniyadav85 Website : http://www.Vmwareminds.com
Reply
0 Kudos