Upgrading vCenter 2.5 to vSphere 5.0

[Brandon7a]

I have a few questions concerning the vSphere 5.0 upgrade. I am currently running vCenter 2.5 on a physical 32 bit W2K3 server. The database resides on a virtual 32 bit W2K3.

1. Can vSphere 5.0 run on a 32 bit server?

2. I would like to create a new VM which is 64 bit and install 5.0 from scratch. Can I then point it to the 32 bit VM database server?

3. With vSphere 5.0, do I have to migrate the license server configs over to the new vSphere server?

Thanks

[weinstein5]

To upgrade your will need to take your vCenetr 2.5 to vSphere 4 first and then up to vSphere 5 per http://partnerweb.vmware.com/comp_guide2/sim/interop_matrix.php? the upgrade solution but to answer your questions

1) No - vCenter 5 runs on 64 bit only -

2) Ccording to the same link above it looks like 32 bit database is supproted for vCenetr 5-

3) as vSphere 4 a license server is no longer used so you will not need to upgarde the license server

[a_p_]

1. Can vSphere 5.0 run on a 32 bit server?

No you'll need either Windows Server 2003 or 2008 (R2) 64-bit

see "Operating system requirements" at http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2003866

2. I would like to  create a new VM which is 64 bit and install 5.0 from scratch. Can I then  point it to the 32 bit VM database server?

There are also some requirements for the database server as well as the minimum vCenter Server version which is supported for an upgrade

see supported database servers and "Pre-upgrade considerations and recommendations" in the article mentioned above

3. With vSphere 5.0, do I have to migrate the license server configs over to the new vSphere server?

Not necessarily. You can also continue to run the old license server (usually you would just deactivate the vCenter Server services) and configure it in the new vCenter Server licensing settings. You need the old license server as long as you have your 3.5 hosts running.

André

[Brandon7a]

After I upgrade to vsphere 5.0 I plan on upgrading my host about a week later. Until then I will need to reinstall the licenses server?

[weinstein5]

Yes you will need a license server - also according to http://partnerweb.vmware.com/comp_guide2/sim/interop_matrix.php? you will need to make sure your ESXi hosts are at Update 5 to be supported by vCenter 5

[a_p_]

As mentioned in answer 3.) in my previous post. I'd recommend you shut down the vCenter Server on the "old" physical 32 bit W2K3 server (assuming this also runs the license server) and configure licensing on the new vCenter Server to use this host for the 3.5 hosts. This way you don't need to install the license server on the new host for only the few days you need it.

André

[Brandon7a]

Since the VC database in on a separate VM running SQL 2005 SP3, what...if any changes will need to be made once I do a fresh install of vSphere on a VM? I know I have to make sure the DSN name points to vSphere but other then that will there need to be any changes to the database server?

Thanks