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ashleymilne
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

4.0 to 4.1 host upgrade quesiton

I have a host running 4.0 that I wish to upgrade to 4.1 I have upgraded my Vcenter to 4.1 and wish to push the 4.1 upgrade out to my host, however there is the upgrade package that can not be installed via Vcenter. Is the upgrade package mandatory regardless of what 4.1 upgrade package you use (iso or zip)? I am not familiar with the command line tools require to install the upgrade package, admitedly my command line experience is rather limited.

Thanks

AM

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26 Replies
ReedMikel2
Contributor
Contributor

I am SOOO glad I did not try doing a full install with the 4.1 .ISO Smiley Happy With the poor documentation (especially the VM website) I've seen so far, I'll bet more than one person ends up losing their VMs Smiley Sad

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leeroyrichardso
Contributor
Contributor

I am close to finishing work now, but if you want I can clone your scenario here tomorrow on a spare server we can create some random vms that way we can go through the upgrade process I am assuming the single host update utility will work and we can see what happens.

Just send me an email if you want to give it a go.






Lee Richardson

Lee Richardson
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ReedMikel2
Contributor
Contributor

Actually, I am all done - thanks for the kind offer! Once I sorted thru VM's bizarre website, I downloaded the update ZIP and installed it within 5-10 mins. Now getting a clear picture of the process, that took hours to extract from VM's site Smiley Happy

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crescendas
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I'm frustrated with how confusing VMware make upgrading for their customers, not to mention frustrating bugs during the upgrading process that bring hours of downtimes. Also, VMware don't consider 4.0 to 4.0u1 or 4.1 as upgrade but update.

Thus in Update Manager, you have to use update/patching and search for 4.1 patch instead of using host upgrade. Also, before you can use Update Manager, you have to manually setup 32bit DSN as Update Manager appears to be a 32bit app and cannot use 64bit DSN. See this for using Update Manager: http://www.rtfm-ed.co.uk/2010/07/27/upgrading-to-vsphere-4-1/

And in Host Upgrade Utility, use scan for patch to upgrade 4.0 to 4.0u1. Use upgrade host to upgrade 3.5 to 4.1. Upgrading 4.0 to 4.1 is NOT supported with Host Upgrade Utility. How "nice". For solution, check this out: http://www.amikkelsen.com/?p=478 or this http://blog.vmpros.nl/2010/07/15/vmware-failed-to-read-the-upgrade-package-metadata-xml-upgrading-to... or this http://communities.vmware.com/message/1571775

Command line is still more reliable. But ensure that you have sufficient storage or not only your upgrade will fail, your existing ESX will get corrupted to run too! Check this out:

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=101620...

ESX upgrades is always the most scary experience I have ever encounter

for so many upgrades I have done with so many other products.

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AlbertWT
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

Wow,

that is so scary , but thanks for your suggestion Crescendas.

my upgrade path will be like the following:

Update the VCenter to 4.1 and use the 64 bit DSN first to setup the connection to the SQL Server.

and then followed by ESXi 4.0 - 4.1 using the PowerCLI

Kind Regards,

AWT

/* Please feel free to provide any comments or input you may have. */
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admin
Immortal
Immortal

That file is not intended for VUM. Please don't try to import it.

Use upgrade-from-ESX4.0* bundles with VUM.

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admin
Immortal
Immortal

Searching for patches etc for upgrading 4.0 host to 4.1 is not required.

Please read the vSpehere upgrade guide.

With 4.1 VUM, all you have to do is --

import upgrade-from-ESX/ESXi4.0-*.zip bindles (use update manager->host upgrade releases->import).

Create an upgrade baseline, attach it to 4.0 hosts

Upgrade!

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