VCenter 4.1 - upgrade database from 32-bit to 64-bit

[trandolph]

Hello:

Running vCenter 4.1u1 (vCenter build 345043) on 64-bit, with the database housed locally on a SQL ExPress 2008 R2 instance.  The original install was to a SQL Express 2005 instance, but the SQL instance was upgraded to allow for the larger databse size (10GB with 2008 R2 vs 4G with 2005).  Upgrade was done with the 32-bit version of the SQL Express 2008 R2.

Now looking at upgrading to vSphere 5.  I'm already on a 64-bit OS - does the SQL EXpress instance also need to be 64-bit?  If so, how do I move from the 2008 R2 32-bit version to the 2008 R2 64-bit version?

Thanks

[admin]

Check the compatibility matrix for vsphere 5. http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/sim/interop_matrix.php

For vsphere 5.0U1, the supported express database is Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express (R2 SP1) - 64-bit

Take a full backup of the vcenter database. Use the data migration tool to backup port settings, SSL certificates and licensing information. More details at http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=200532...

Install the supported SQL server version, restore database, create 64-bit DSN and point to the new database, go to the data migration folder and run "install.bat", when prompted for DB options, select "Use an existing supported database".

[trandolph]

Hmmm.  From the compatability index, neither version of the SQL Express 2008 R2 versions are compatible with 4.1 update 1, which is what I'm running (without any issues).  Both 32 and 64 bit versions are supported for 4.1u2, and then just the 64-bit version for v5.0 or v5.0u1. 

Further, if I start the data migration tool from the 5.0 CD, i get the following message:

[INFO] vCenter Server installation version 4.1.0.14766

{ERROR] vCenter Server version not supported

Searching for that in the Vmware communities tells me that the migration tool only supports v4.0 versions of vCenter, and not the 4.1 versions. 

So I'm not clear how to proceed .... Can I just install a 64-bit instance of SQL Express, detach the db from the 32-bit instance and then attach it to the 64-bit instance?  I assume that I would need to uninstall/reinstall vCenter in order to get the DSN pointed to the right instance, and, if the compatability index is accurate, I suppose I should also upgrade vCenter to 4.1u2 before I start that?

[admin]

The docs for vcenter 4.1U1 doesn't mention about the support for SQL2008 express. Only 4.1U2 release notes say that. http://www.vmware.com/support/vsphere4/doc/vsp_vc41_u2_rel_notes.html

It may be safer to upgrade to 4.1U2 and then to v5. Install SQL 2008 instance and then migrate the database. Refer http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=102860...

Modify the DSN to point to the new database and then attempt to start vcenter 4.1U1. If it is successful then you can proceed with the upgrade.

Do not uninstall vcenter instead do an in-place upgrade.

Also take a backup of the SSL certificates - %allusersprofile%\ApplicationData\VMware\VMware VirtualCenter

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-upgrade...

Sorry about the data migration tool. You don't need that for this version.

[trandolph]

I take your point on the 4.1u1 documentation not supporting SQL Express 2008 R2 .  This conversation - http://communities.vmware.com/thread/303190 - had suggested otherwise, and I did not check the compatability index.

I'll try this order of events:

• upgrading vCenter to 4.1u2, which does support SQL Express 2008 R2. 
• install SQL Express 2008 R2 64 bit version.  Per the link you sent, this should involve uninstalling and reinstalling vCenter 4.1u2 in order to get the DSN pointed correctly using the 2008 ODBC driver.
• I then should be able to do an inplaceupgrade to v5.x

I'll let you know how it goes ....

[trandolph]

So far so good - I installed the 64-bit 2008 SQL Express side by side on the machine, and then did a backup of the 32-bit instance VIM-VCDB database.  I then restored the database into the 64-bit SQL Express instance.  I created the system DSN using the SQL 10.0 Native Client (installed with SQL Express).  Uninstall vCenter, reboot, and reinstall vCenter using the new DSN (pointing to the 64-bit instance).

I still need to add a 32-bit DSN for the database, so that I can reinstall Upgrade Manager, but I think I'm out of the woods. 

Thanks for the help!

[trandolph]

Sorry - meant to mark that as a "correct" answer, but mis-clicked.

[admin]

Thanks for the update. Glad you got it working.