Vcenter server P2V

[Intmin1]

Hi all,

We are upgrading our vSphere from 4.1 to 5.1.

We are getting an outside company to do the actual upgrade, but need to P2V the vCenter server. We want to make a virtual server of the vCenter server but not have it running as the vCenter server immediately, just need a stable virtual version of the vCenter server until the outside company can do the upgrade (which is scheduled to be done in 4 weeks). I found another plan on here  but have tweaked to our needs.

• Verify good full backup of vCenter Server
• Ensure there are no current migrations
• Verify good full backup of SQL
• Maintenance mode target ESX host and wait for all VM’s to DRS to another host
• Disconnect ESX host from vCenter
• Remove ESX host from vCenter
• Stop all vCenter and SQL Services on physical vCenter server
• Run P2V converter
• Check if stable with NIC disabled

Is there any issues with this plan? Anything else we need to be aware of?

Thanks

[weinstein5]

Sounds good but why are you removing the targeted ESXi host from the vCenter environment?

[Intmin1]

Like I said it was a plan from elsewhere and adapted to our needs. If removing the ESXi host is not needed then I will remove that from the plan.

Updated plan:

• Verify good full backup of vCenter Server
• Ensure there are no current migrations
• Verify good full backup of SQL
• Maintenance mode target ESX host and wait for all VM’s to DRS to another host
• Disconnect ESX host from vCenter
• Stop all vCenter and SQL Services on physical vCenter server
• Run P2V converter
• Check if stable with NIC disabled

Any other issues?

[weinstein5]

That will do it -