Virtual Center Upgrade 2.5 to 4

[vpalan]

Can any one help out for my request?

1. Am using VC 2.5 & host 3.5, now i need to upgrade only VC 2.5 to latest version (VC 4.0)

i like to appriciate if some one share the steps one by one...

[AntonVZhbankov]

1. Upgrade Virtual Center to latest 2.5 update

2. Backup Virtual Center DB

3. Run Upgrade to vCenter 4 with DB conversion

4. vCenter 4 can manage ESX 3.5, so you don't have upgrade ESXes till you want to upgrade them

---

MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[AndreTheGiant]

Remember also to upgrade the vCenter plugin and the client.

License Server must be leaved cause ESX 3.5 will be licensed by this service.

Andre

[vpalan]

Thanks for your swift response...

i have couple of queries

1. How to backup VC DB

2. How can i identify my DB is SQL server, SQL express edition embedded with VC?

3. Am currently using VC 2.5.0 Build 64192, may i know what to do now to upgrade to 4?

4. do you mean that in from my Virtual Center need to execute the upgrade file? or i need to install in separate machine?

[AndreTheGiant]

1. How to backup VC DB

You can use SQL Management Studio (or the express version that is free and can be downloaded from MS site).

2. How can i identify my DB is SQL server, SQL express edition embedded with VC?

See the ODBC DSN configuration

3. Am currently using VC 2.5.0 Build 64192, may i know what to do now to upgrade to 4?

Build version can be see on VMware site, in download, near each product version.

4. do you mean that in from my Virtual Center need to execute the upgrade file? or i need to install in separate machine?

To make the upgrade you must run the same machine.

Andre

[Troy_Clavell]

i have couple of queries

1. How to backup VC DB

talk to your DBA

2. How can i identify my DB is SQL server, SQL express edition embedded with VC?

Check your ODBC DSN Connection

3. Am currently using VC 2.5.0 Build 64192, may i know what to do now to upgrade to 4?

following the Upgrade guide will be helpful http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40_u1/vsp_40_u1_upgrade_guide.pdf

4. do you mean that in from my Virtual Center need to execute the upgrade file? or i need to install in separate machine?

you upgrade from where you 2.5 vCenter instance is installed.

[vpalan]

Thanks a lot guys...

Before upgrading the VC 2.5 to 5

1. do you required to stop any services before upgrading the VC 4?

2. it's mandatory to update the VC 2.5 to latest version then i need to upgrade to 4 or i can directly install with current version?

3. how to backup the SSL certificate?

4. after upgrading VC 4, again i need to configure license part?

5. before staring upgrading VC 4, i need power off the VM's and put the host in the maintences mode?

6. can i download the VC 4 software from VMware site?

anythings i miss let me know...

Thanks in advances

With Regards,

P. vimal

[AntonVZhbankov]

>1. do you required to stop any services before upgrading the VC 4?

No.

>2. it's mandatory to update the VC 2.5 to latest version then i need to upgrade to 4 or i can directly install with current version?

It is strongly recommended.

>3. how to backup the SSL certificate?

Not required.

>4. after upgrading VC 4, again i need to configure license part?

It's pretty simple in VC4, but you have to leave old licensing server for ESX 3.5

>5. before staring upgrading VC 4, i need power off the VM's and put the host in the maintences mode?

No.

>6. can i download the VC 4 software from VMware site?

Yes.

---

MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[vpalan]

may i know the latest update for VC 2.5 and link for the download please...

[Troy_Clavell · Accepted solution]

vSphere4

VMware vCenter Server 4 Update 1

VI3

VMware vCenter Server 2.5 Update 5

[vpalan]

Can you please tell me how can i find out the below information

1. VMware Product Serial Number or license Activation Code

[Troy_Clavell]

all your licenses will be on your license portal

http://blogs.vmware.com/kb/2009/07/got-vmware-licensing-questions.html

[vpalan]

Are you sure about that it's mandatory to update the VC 2.5 to latest version ? The documentation says:

“The vCenter Server installer detects any VirtualCenter 2.x release and upgrades it.”

[AntonVZhbankov]

It is not mandatory. Anyway, if you have Virtual Center DB backup then you can always try one more time if something goes wrong.

---

MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[vpalan]

can i directly upgrade VC 2.5 base to VC 2.5 update 5? then i can go for VC 4.0.

[shane_presley]

Yes. That's exactly what I just did.

[vpalan]

Hmmm.. that's good. thanks for your help.

did you faced any issue?

1. what are the services need to stop before staring upgrade VC 2.5 to VC 4.0

2. what options need to select when database setting to preserve yes or no

3. what options need to select when you upgrade the database, Preserve events and tasks or Preserve performance data

[shane_presley]

No issues, everything went smoothly.

1. None -- I let the installation software handle all of that. I didn't manually stop anything.

2. I selected Preserve.

3. I opted to preserve our performance data, since we wanted to keep that. But if you don't care about your VM performance graphs, you could skip that.

[vpalan]

KB Article: 1009039 --> Kb Article says we need do the folowing things below,

1. Make sure that you have the following permissions:

Microsoft SQL:

Grant the System DSN user of the vCenter Database db_owner privileges on the vCenter database.

Grant the System DSN user of the vCenter Database db_owner privileges on the MSDB database.

Note: The db_owner privileges on the MSDB database are required for installation and upgrade only.

2. Configure new vSphere 4.0 licences.

3. Make sure Intel VT is enabled in the host's BIOS.

4. Confirm that all virtual machines are migrated or powered down on the ESX host.

it's required to do? please help me....

[shane_presley]

1. Yes, that's absolutely required. You'll need the correct database permissions so that the upgrade process can upgrade the database.

2. Yes, you will need your vSphere licenses. You can do that through the license portal on vmware.com.

3. That only applies to when you upgrade your ESX Hosts. It doesn't apply to Virtual Center.

4. That only applies to when you upgrade your ESX Hosts. It doesn't apply to Virtual Center.