Migration: vCenter Server to VCSA - at the same version

[mag02]

Hello,

we've got a vCenter Server 6.0 at Windows and would like to migrate it to VCSA 6.0 e.g. keeping the same version and not upgrading.

Is that possible and what's the recommended procedure then? All documents cover the "migration-with-upgrade" scenarios (from 5.5 to 6.0 etc).

[daphnissov · Accepted solution]

No, it's not possible to perform a "horizontal" migration just changing the platform.

[RickVerstegen]

No not possible. Supported upgrade paths are migrating to 6.5 or 6.7.

Before you start your migration make sure to check the VMware Product Interoperability Matrices and cross check your environment support.

[mag02]

I was afraid of that, but thanks for replying anyway.

And how about backing up the vCenter Server database (postgresql) and restoring it at the VCSA instance? Would it work?

That would of course mean loss of some stuff, but it could make the migration at least partially possible.

And perhaps the certificate backup and restore procedure might work too which would be an additional improvement.

[daphnissov]

Sorry, not possible. That won't work. There is far more to a vCenter's identity than just the vPostgres DB.