I have a relatively small ESXi 5.5 environment. I am running 5 hosts with 82 Virtual Machines. Our current database is 2008, which is unsupported for the vCenter 6 upgrade. The SQL server we are using is running 3 other databases and we would prefer not to upgrade the SQL server at this time due to vendor support issues with the other databases. Is there a way to convert the database during the upgrade process? Would migrating the database to a different server and then upgrading be a better option?
Hi,
Migrating to another server is a standard way forward, if you have the licensing to cover that with SQL Server!
As your environment isn't all that big, have you considered running the vCSA? There is a tool that helps you convert your Windows vCenter Server to vCSA. For the size and scale you are looking for you could consolidate down a windows server and a SQL server into one appliance!
We tried to use the vCSA when we went with View and our view admin told us it wasn't supported. I guess we have never given it much thought since. Thanks for the suggestion and I will try to find the vCSA tool.
Hi theire,
For SQl Matrix:
VMware Product Interoperability Matrixes
i personally wouldn't suggest going with Appliances in any Way if could be avoided. Sure they are prepared for "little" Environments, but they are unflexible to fit for newer Builds etc,...... Horrible in case of Problems. So it's a Single Point of Failure for me, as faced enough Pain in the Past. So i like more to install everything by my own, knowing then all is working as suspected.
you have SQL Install seperated from vCenter Install?
So instead of migrating, i would install temporarly the highest Express Edition and to add the Database theire. (if hopefully DB is not too big for Express)
Soon later if you upgraded you're current Database would be good to add back that ones.
Reason is you need for sure Maintenance Plans to avoid high Fragmentations etc,...
Best regards
Max
