Upgrading Exsi and vCentre 5.5 u3 to 6.5 U2 with new Hardware

[43A8V]

Hi,

the customer has three old Lenovo x3650 M4 and would like three current M5. In addition, the customer has vsphere 5.5 U3 and would like to migrate to 6.5 U2. the customer has licensed Vsphere Essentials Plus Kits

What would be the Basic steps to switch the hardware and have three new 6.5 ESXi hosts and exactly same VMs?

Thank you so much

[diegodco31]

Hi

vSphere Upgrade Series Part 1: Preparing to Upgrade - VMware vSphere Blog

[a_p_ · Accepted solution]

the customer has three old Lenovo x3650 M4 and would like three current M5.

You are aware that this server model is still supported, even up to ESXi 6.7 Update1, aren't you?

You asked for basic steps:

1. make sure that any add-on, or 3-rd party software supports vSphere 6.5
2. check whether the Essentials Plus licenses can be upgraded to version 6
3. set the current cluster's EVC mode to the hosts's current CPU compatibility set - Ivy-Bridge (optional)
4. upgrade vCenter Server to the vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 Update 2
5. update the new hosts' firmware, and configure BIOS options (if necessary)
6. install the latest available Lenovo customized ESXi image on the new hosts, and configure the settings (NTP, network, storage, ...)
7. evacuate one of the old host (vMotion VM's to the other two hosts)
8. remove the evacuated host from the cluster, and add one of the new hosts to the cluster
9. evacuate the second old host (vMotion VMs to the new host)
10. remove the evacuated host from the cluster, and add one of the new hosts to the cluster
11. evacuate the third old host (vMotion VMs to the new hosts)
12. remove the evacuated host from the cluster, and add one of the new hosts to the cluster
13. assign the new license keys to vCenter Server, and the hosts
14. reconfigure add-ons, and 3rd-party applications if required

Once all hosts are replaced, you may increase the EVC compatibility level, update VMware Tools, and upgrade the VMs' hardware version, ...

What you may also consider is to apply the latest patches to the new hosts, if the vendor image doesn't already contain them. To do this, you may create a new Patch Baseline with all the ESXi 6.5 patches in the Update Manager, assign this baseline to the new host as you add them to the cluster, and remediate them prior to migrating VM to them.

André

[43A8V]

Thanks for the helpful answer. The problem would be that vCenter Essentials Plus only supports up to 3 hosts.

Another stupid question; what happens to the storage and network configuration. Do you have to reconfigure everything for the new host?

Thank you

[a_p_]

The problem would be that vCenter Essentials Plus only supports up to 3 hosts.

That's why I provided the steps for a rolling replacement (steps 7 - 12)

what happens to the storage and network configuration. Do you have to reconfigure everything for the new host?

Yes, you'll have to do this. Higher (and more expensive) editions offer Distributed Virtual Switches, and Host Profiles which can help to reduce administraive tasks, but for only 3 hosts, it shouldn't take long to configure them, even before adding them to the cluster (step5 5 -  6).

André