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wacky99
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Best methodology for moving Linux VMs from VC 2.5/ESX 3.5 to vCentre 4.0/ESX4

Guys,

I've to move a number of these. Both clusters are there. So this is not a question about upgrade of VC/ESX. I want to use the easiest possible method for moving these VMs and here is my plan:

1. Copy over the whole VM directory from the datastore on VC 2.5 to the datastore on vCentre 4.

2. Add the VM to inventory in vCentre 4.

3. Upgrade VMware Tools

4. Upgrade hardware to version 7.

And that's it. Please let me know if this plan is feasible or more importantly any holes in the plan.

Thanks

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pcerda
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Hi,

You have some options:

1- You can make the old datastore visible for ESX 4.x, and to register the VMs on vCenter 4.0.

2- You can add the ESX 3.5 hosts to vCenter 4.0 y move the VMs into the ESX 4.0 cluster. You can use vMotion or Storage vMotion according your needs.

3. You can use standalone converter in order to make hot cloning of Linux VMs into ESX 4.0.




Regards / Saludos

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Patricio Cerda !http://www.images.wisestamp.com/linkedin.png!

VMware VCP-410

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Si encuentras que esta o cualquier otra respuesta ha sido de utilidad, vótalas. Gracias.

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Regards / Saludos - Patricio Cerda - vExpert 2011 / 2012 / 2013

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athlon_crazy
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My question on regard to your plan 1. Why you need to copy over VM folder from one to another datastore knowing that VC 2.5 and VC 4 using the same VMFS / Datastore version?. Just make old datastore visible to ESX/VC 4 and you can straight away proceed to the next plan.

http://www.no-x.org
pcerda
Virtuoso
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Hi,

You have some options:

1- You can make the old datastore visible for ESX 4.x, and to register the VMs on vCenter 4.0.

2- You can add the ESX 3.5 hosts to vCenter 4.0 y move the VMs into the ESX 4.0 cluster. You can use vMotion or Storage vMotion according your needs.

3. You can use standalone converter in order to make hot cloning of Linux VMs into ESX 4.0.




Regards / Saludos

-


Patricio Cerda !http://www.images.wisestamp.com/linkedin.png!

VMware VCP-410

Join to Virtualizacion en Español group in Likedin

See My Blog

See My Linkedin Profile

-


Si encuentras que esta o cualquier otra respuesta ha sido de utilidad, vótalas. Gracias.

If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points by marking the answer helpful or correct. Thank you.

Regards / Saludos - Patricio Cerda - vExpert 2011 / 2012 / 2013
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wacky99
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Thanks athlon_crazy. Old datastore is on EMC which will be retired after all apps have been migrated.

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wacky99
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Thanks pcerda. I may go with your 2nd suggestion - i.e. bring the ESX 3.5 hosts into vCentre 4.0. Only problem here may be the licenses. Am I right in assuming that ESX 3.5/VC 2.5 licenses are not valid in ESX 4.0/vCentre 4.0 ?

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pcerda
Virtuoso
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Hi,

You have to configure vCenter Server in order to use a License Server for your ESX 3.5 hosts. The License Server can be the same you are using in Virtual Center 2.5.

Remember that ESX3.5/VC2.5 use license files instead of license keys (like ESX4.x/vC4.x). You also can upgrade your old licenses on VMware licensing site.




Regards / Saludos

-


Patricio Cerda !http://www.images.wisestamp.com/linkedin.png!

VMware VCP-410

Join to Virtualizacion en Español group in Likedin

See My Blog

See My Linkedin Profile

-


Si encuentras que esta o cualquier otra respuesta ha sido de utilidad, vótalas. Gracias.

If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points by marking the answer helpful or correct. Thank you.

Regards / Saludos - Patricio Cerda - vExpert 2011 / 2012 / 2013
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