Hello,
I have a couple of questions on patching vCenter and will use the installation of vCenter Server 4.0 Patch 1 as my reference for these questions...
:smileyinfo: I am using the tech note at http://www.badkey.com/db/blogsphere.nsf/2/JWIE-7VDPKJ/$File/PTech_note_vCenter_Server_4.0_Patch1.pdf as the process document. This appears to be an official VMware document but I can't find it anywhere on the VMware website. Is this the correct process? Is it on the VMware web site?
:smileyinfo: Backing up the database - the above tech note does not refer to smaller installations that are running SQL Express. Are there any specifics in relation to this type of installation? If I do the upgrade, I think it should see the 'old' database immediately, correct? If I do have to use the backup for whatever reason, are there any gotchas in getting this up-and-running?
Thanks,
number1vspherefan.
If you point to the existing DSN of the current vCenter Server DB, then you perform the upgrade.
Otherwise you perform a new installation or an upgrade of old data.
You can see the DSN list from your ODBC manager.
Andre
The document is:
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40_u1/vsp_40_u1_upgrade_guide.pdf
Run the install, specify the existing ODBC DSN and the install will performa and upgrade.
The DB schema will be update and it does not make a backup at all.
So make it FIRST to start the upgrade.
Andre
Hi,
I didn't realise that a DSN was created when SQL Express was used - can you confirm that it is created?
Thanks,
number1vspherefan.
A DSN is just a "configuration" to do a database connection.
vCenter Server install program will create both the database and the DSN.
To perform the upgrade you have to use the same DSN.
Andre
Hi,
Thanks for that. I've done vCenter installs with 'full' SQL and with Express and I recall creating the DSN, setting up the connection etc with the full SQL but not with Express. So I suppose what I'm wondering is when I'm doing the upgrade installation, will I get the option to point it at the DSN of the existing SQL express database or do I need to do any extra work to point it at this existing DSN? Will it be visible as a DSN to the upgrade install process?
Thanks,
number1vspherefan.
If you point to the existing DSN of the current vCenter Server DB, then you perform the upgrade.
Otherwise you perform a new installation or an upgrade of old data.
You can see the DSN list from your ODBC manager.
Andre