upgrade esx 3.5 to vsphere

[sweetmail]

We have several esx 3.5 server and we would like to upgrade it to Vsphere. Is that possible to do that? If we can, where can we get the software to do that?

Thanks

[jordan57]

You will most likely need to purchase new license for vSphere and then you will be able to download the software.

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[mittim12]

If you have active support you may already have licenses for vSphere. You could go into your "My Account" and view licensing information. Here is a link to an upgrade guide that may help you out or at least point you in the right direction. The software should be available through the Support and Downloads page.

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_upgrade_guide.pdf

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[golddiggie]

If your 3.5 licenses are still covered by SnS (as already mentioned) then you should have the licenses to upgrade to vSphere. You'll also find links to the downloads on your account page/section. Before you try to upgrade the host servers, I would set up the new vCenter Server (4u1) and then add the existing 3.5 hosts to the inventory there (you'll need to point the vCenter server to the license server for the 3.5 hosts). DO install the Update Manager item when you configure the vCenter Server. You'll want to have the option to use that to upgrade/update the hosts to 4u1 (as well as additional updates).

Network Administrator

VMware VCP4

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[lnairn · Accepted solution]

Hi,

If you don't have VirtualCenter, you can use Host Update Utility.

Check This, page 72

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40_u1/vsp_40_u1_upgrade_guide.pdf

[golddiggie]

Figured since he said "several" hosts, that they would be using Virtual Center Server (and have the license for vCenter Server now). I cannot imagine managing more than one, possible two, hosts without using the vCenter Server. In my eyes, it's money well spent. What you'll save in your own time alone will probably pay for the product rather quickly. I know that it does in my case. Plus the increased functionality it affords you adds up fast. Being able to vMotion and svMotion are two huge items alone...

Network Administrator

VMware VCP4

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[sweetmail]

Thank you so much for all the responses. I wanted to give point to all the posts and then realized later that I can only give ONE "helpful" and ONE "correct". Sorry. this is my first time posting question here.

I will study all your answer and will let you know how it goes.

By the way, in many upgrade document I read, it asked me to backup all the database: e.g. current VM database, current SSL certificate, create a backup copy of vpxd.cfg. How do I do that?

Thanks