How to backup vCenter before upgrade?

[esuarez78]

How do i backup vCenter 4.0 before I upgrade to vCenter 4.1 U1?

I'm running SQL Express with only 3 hosts.  I backup up the database fine, but are there other ways to backup vCenter configurations to backup?

For the upgrade, I'm moving vCenter from a physical server to a VM.  Are there any particulars that I should keep in mind when doing so?  Any ideas or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[MauroBonder]

this maybe help http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=102163...

[esuarez78]

Thanks so much.  This did help.  However when running through the process i encountered an error when on the newly intended serer to run vCenter.  When running the install.bat command the following error occured:

C:\datamigration>install.bat
'import site' failed; use -v for traceback
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\datamigration\\install.py", line 17, in <module>
    import re, sys, os, subprocess
  File "C:\datamigration\runtime\AMD64\python-2.6.2\lib\re.py", line 105, in <mo
dule>
    import sre_compile
ImportError: No module named sre_compile

C:\datamigration>

Any ideas anyone?  The backup ran fine without errors on my current vCenter server.

[MauroBonder]

i have no idea.

Check this, might more easy for you.

you can download SQL Server Management Studio Express, and install this on the VC server.

Then  from within the SQL Server Management Studio you should be able to  backup the VC database by browsing through the databases and right  clicking on the VC database, then select Tasks&gt;Back up.

You can download SQL Server Management Studio Express at the following link - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/express/bb410792.aspx

[esuarez78]

Not quite sure I'm understating correctly what you are thinking, are you thinking about restore the backup SQL Express DB from my current vCenter server to my new vCenter Server?  Is that what you mean?

[MauroBonder · Accepted solution]

hey ok. The best answer. Check guide of upgrade. http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r41/vsp_41_upgrade_guide.pdf

[esuarez78]

Thanks for the link.  I referenced it and I was able to successfully migrate vCenter to a VM.  Thanks! 

[MauroBonder]

You´re welcome!