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yaseen_ka
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vCloud Upgrade question

We are looking to upgrade vCloud directory from 1.5.1 to 5.1. This also includes adding another vcenter as a new provider vDC to leverage the new server and storage infrastructure.
At the moment we have 1 vcenter with 2 cluster. One for management and one is a provider vDC for all the existing org vDCs. Storage is coming from a clarion CX4 array. Now we have 4 new Cisco UCS blade servers and an new VNX array. I want to upgrade vCloud to 5.1 first and then build a new vcenter, attach these new hosts to that, carve out new datastores and attach this vcenter to vCloud and create an new provider vDC from it.
I would like to know if its possible to add this new provider vDC to existing vDCs even though its coming from a different vcenter?? Also how will the templates in catalog be shared between the 2 provider vDCs??
Thanks,
Yaseen
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cfor
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Yes you can add...  Just add the second vCenter, and create a new provider VDC.

The real fun is around catalogs and templates.

Here is the quick - how it works.

I will assume catalog items are on VC-01 for purpose of this little info block.  When a item is needed on VC-02 vcloud will make a shadow over to the other vcenter.  Now it does this via 2 methods.

1. ExportOVF (HORRIBLE)... but sometimes just required.  [vcloud does it, but it is very slow and really puts a strain on the system]

2. Direct datastore -> datastore CopyFile.  This is the best way - however it is really picky.  You cannot have chain length > 1 on a catalog item if you want to use this.  Also you need to make sure all hosts (on both vcenters) can access any datastore with catalog items.  [However the trick - you CANNOT add the catalog datastores in vcloud to the new provider vdc; or the system will really causes on odd issues.

I know this info is not 100% complete; but hopefully can get you thinking about what you need more details on.

ChrisF (VCP4, VCP5, VCP-Cloud) - If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points by marking the answer correct or helpful

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cfor
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Yes you can add...  Just add the second vCenter, and create a new provider VDC.

The real fun is around catalogs and templates.

Here is the quick - how it works.

I will assume catalog items are on VC-01 for purpose of this little info block.  When a item is needed on VC-02 vcloud will make a shadow over to the other vcenter.  Now it does this via 2 methods.

1. ExportOVF (HORRIBLE)... but sometimes just required.  [vcloud does it, but it is very slow and really puts a strain on the system]

2. Direct datastore -> datastore CopyFile.  This is the best way - however it is really picky.  You cannot have chain length > 1 on a catalog item if you want to use this.  Also you need to make sure all hosts (on both vcenters) can access any datastore with catalog items.  [However the trick - you CANNOT add the catalog datastores in vcloud to the new provider vdc; or the system will really causes on odd issues.

I know this info is not 100% complete; but hopefully can get you thinking about what you need more details on.

ChrisF (VCP4, VCP5, VCP-Cloud) - If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points by marking the answer correct or helpful
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yaseen_ka
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Thanks Chris. I have one more follow up question. Would be great if you can give me your opinion on this one.

I am in the planning to upgrade my vCloud 1.5 environment to 5.1. I am currently running a single cell vcenter 5.0 and ESX 5.0 environment. I am not going to upgrade vcenter and ESXi to 5.1 now, but will later. Below are the steps I am going to follow.

1. Upgrade vcloupd to 5.1

2. Upgrade the DB

3. Restart vcd service

4. Upgrade vshiel manager to 5.0 vshield network and security manager.

I have VCNI pools configured. I read some where that 5.1  supports only VXLAN. Can someone pls tell me if I am going to have issues with vapps running with VCNI confiugrations??

Also pls advice if upgrading only vCD and vSM to 5.1 and leaving vcenter and ESXi at 5.0 will create any problems on exiting VMs?? Pls advice if my upgrade plan is correct.

Thanks,

Yaseen

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JayhawkEric
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Yaseen,

I've already done this upgrade and you will not have issues with VXLAN and VCDNI pools.  VXLAN will throw an error but I've just disabled it.

VCD 5.1 supports vCenter/ESXi 5.0 so no issues there.

Only caution to messing stuff up is make sure you backup your vCNS (vCloud Networking and Security = vSM now) before the upgrade.  Both of my vCNS VM's crapped out during the upgrade.  I had to delete them and then restore the DB.

Eric

VCP5-DV twitter - @ericblee6 blog - http://vEric.me
yaseen_ka
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Thanks for your response Eric.

Can you pls tell me how to backup the vSM devices?? I have tried using the backup option on the web interface and it never seem to work.

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JayhawkEric
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To export a backup you'll need access to an FTP server.

  1. Logon to your vCNS either via https://IP or via vCenter/Solutions and Applications/vShield
  2. Settings & Reports on the Left of the screen, Configuration Tab, and then click Backups below the Updates tab
  3. Fill out IP, user, password, directory (must create a sub directory on FTP site or else it won't work), file prefix
  4. Click Save Settings button.

Now you can type the password again and click Backup button.

You can schedule backups as well, which is what we do.  We had one die and it was a pain to cleanup our VCD DB and vApps that were using VSE's.

Eric

VCP5-DV twitter - @ericblee6 blog - http://vEric.me
yaseen_ka
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Thanks again Eric. I got the back up working.

One last question. If vSM dies on me, how do i restore it??

Thanks,

Yaseen

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JayhawkEric
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If the system dies and you need to do a restore just restore the VCNS appliance with the current version, or new version.

Then follow this process:

  1. put the same backup settings in as described in previous post and save settings.
  2. Type password again and click View Backups button to see available backups to restore from.
  3. Pick from a backup in the list (if you have more than one) and click restore button.

Eric

VCP5-DV twitter - @ericblee6 blog - http://vEric.me
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