Upgrade from free ESXi 4 to vSphere

[0j3r3my0]

Hi Guys!

My company would like to upgrade the ESXi 4 servers to Essential vSphere. Do we have to reinstall ESXi 4 our we can just activate the servers in the Licensing section? I have another problem. Could we manage all server with only one vSphere client after this update?

And one more question about the Vmware Data Recovery. This feature as I see only available for Essential Plus. Is this the GUI backup system for ESXi?

Thank you for the answers!

Regards,

Jeremy

[golddiggie]

Just enter the new product key on the existing host, replacing the existing one. Set up a vCenter Server and you'll have a much easier way to manage that, and more. Are you getting a license for vCenter too? If you have more than one ESX/ESXi host, get a license for vCenter Server to cover all the hosts. Without the vCenter server you'll have to directly connect to each host as you need to administrate them. That makes things far more complicated/difficult. IF you have just one host you won't see much of a difference. Other than what the vCenter gives you for additional features.

With vCenter running, you can install the client software on anyone's system that will need access to the ESX items. With a vCenter server, you add your hosts to that's datacenter and it's all managed from that single instance of the client.

Looking at the matrix () you need to get Essentials Plus or higher to get the vDR function. If you're going with shared storage, which you really should use, (and more than one host) go with at least the Advanced product or above.

VCP4

[AntonVZhbankov]

>Do we have to reinstall ESXi 4 our we can just activate the servers in the Licensing section?

Just enter new serial number.

>Could we manage all server with only one vSphere client after this update?

Yes, if you're going to manage them with vCenter. vSphere client is identical for all editions.

>And one more question about the Vmware Data Recovery. This feature as I see only available for Essential Plus. Is this the GUI backup system for ESXi?

Yes, but minimalistic, with only very basic functions. I prefer Veeam Backup.

---

MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[jkumhar75]

1. Yes, you just need to enter the new serial number and that's all.

2.To get the advantage of most of the virtualization feature,get the license for the virtual center and install it in your enterprise.This will help you to manage your ESX cluster.

3. Yes, this is a GUI backup system.But if you are familiar with the VCB go for that..It's great backup product from Vmware.

MCSE,VCP310,VCP410.

[0j3r3my0]

Thank you for the replies. The vSphere Essential contains the following:

With the vSphere 4 Essentials Bundle, you can:

Centrally monitor and control servers and virtual machines from a single pane of glass

VMware vSphere 4 Essentials Bundle includes:

VMware vCenter Server Agent

Do these features allow us to use the vCenter server for centalized management of the two physical server?

Thank you!

[AndreTheGiant]

Yes.

You have a central point on management.

Monitor, alarms and you can also work with template, cold migration and clones.

Andre

[0j3r3my0]

Thank you!

Will this license of VCB allow us to create VM backups from RUNNING virtual machines?

[AndreTheGiant · Accepted solution]

VCB can do backup of running VMs, but using VMware snapshots.

And, if needed, pre and post snap scripts to be run into the VM.

Andre

[0j3r3my0]

Thanks!

[ealaqqad]

Hi,

As everyone else has mentioned just enter the license in virtual center & connect the hosts to them.

Though what is nice to know that ESXi is the way forward, so as you are already using ESXi you will have an easier upgrade path with the next vSphere release :). More info on this can be found my post: VMware ESX is End of Life, in the future only VMware ESXi will exist

I hope this help some one, if it does please reward points.

Enjoy,

Eiad Al-Aqqad

System X & Storage Technical Specialist

Founder of http://www.VirtualizationTeam.com

Founder of http://www.TSMGuru.com