upgrade, install, migrate?

[snafumaster]

My ESXi host is 5.5.0 build 1623387 on an HP ProLiant DL360p Gen8.  vSphere is running on a 2008r2 Windows server and there are a total of 9 VMs.  The vSphere server is a workgroup machine, and it is one of the  VMs on the same host.  I need to have a 2012 r2 domain member be the vSphere server, and I would like to get vSphere to 6.x.  I already have the new 2012 VM running on the host, and it is now a domain member.  There are no other hosts or vSphere servers.

I'm wondering what the best approach would be to accomplish this.

Should I set up the new vSphere server with 6.x and migrate the object in?  Would it be better to build the new server with 5.5.0, and then upgrade vSphere?  Is there a better (or best) way?

Any advice would be appreciated.  I'm mostly looking for the general sequence, as opposed to the details of how to.

[rcporto]

Not sure if I understand you, but when you say vSphere Server you're talking about the vCenter Server ? If yes, since you have only one vSphere ESXi host, my recommendation is just install the vCenter Server 6 on the new virtual machine and then move the vSphere ESXi host to the new vCenter Server. Here is the procedure: VMware KB: Moving a managed ESXi/ESX host from one vCenter Server to another vCenter Server

[AdarshGowda]

Hi snafumastersnafumaster,

however you have all the setup ready to install vSphere to 6.x so better install freshly and re-join the host to new vcenter 6.x.

Regards,

Adarsh.

[snafumaster]

@Richardson Porto - excuse me, you are totally correct.  I meant the VCenter server - Thank you for the link; I will give that a read.

@AdarshGowda - I think you are both advising me similar.

It make sense to me as well, to do the clean install and then migrate.

Thanks Gents!  I'll try to report back after I am done.