VMware vcenter server migration from 4.0 to 4.1

VMwAre Vcenter server is used for maintaining the esx servers from a centralized place with user permission and cluster creation and the licensing issues.

New version 4.1 MUST be installed on a Windows 64 bit OS computer.

I migrated it from an old server to a new one, so I had to proceed with a migration.

While migrating from 4.0 to 4.1, we need to follow these steps for getting old database converted to new format, as it is different from 4.0 to 4.1.

 

Before migration, the following services of vcenter should be stopped

VMware VirtualCenter Server

VMware VirtualCenter Management Webservices

VMware vCenter Update Manager Service

 

Mount the vcenter ISO image or load the bunt DVD in the old vcenter server machine. Open the cd and copy the Datamigration folder to C:\Datamigration

Extract all the file in the same folder.

IMPORTANT: Verify that you have at least 8 GB of available space, as many configuration files will be copied to C: drive.

 

 

Navigate to C:\Datamigration\ and run backup.bat , the script will backup all configuration settings from your recent vCenter installation and database. (Software builds, used ports, database information, server names and VUM Settings/Patches etc.).. once finished all the important data is stored in C:\Datamigration\Data\
If there are any errors while making the backup… check this and fix before you go further!
Now you need to copy the C:\Databasemigration\ folder to your new planned vCenter 4.1 server. You can do this by share, copy this on USB stick or whatever.

Migrate the database and install vCenter 4.1:
- Login to the new vCenter server;
- Mount the new VMware vCenter Server 4.1 and modules
Open CMD:

- Navigate to C:\Data migration\ and run install.bat. The script will check if the correct data is present..

If you used a different name for your new vCenter server press Yes.. to continue

Then you must select the vCenter 4.1 and VUM installation source. In my case the mounted ISO has drive letter F:\

The configuration will be validated, correct ports numbers, vCenter serial number etc.. all good..

.. The vCenter Installation is started

I already installed a Microsoft SQL 2005 Enterprise server (local) and created a 32 bit ODBC connection, THEN select "vCenter41" DSN

If needed, give the correct credentials

 

You can modify this later, please check: http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1001046 for more information

 

 

- I changed the installation path to D:\Program Files\VMware\Infrastructure\ .. default location is C:\..\.

 

 

 

 

 

Oke, the installation was not so difficult. After clicking finish the install.bat will continue with the VMware Update Manager database migration and installation.

VMware Update Manager – Database migration and installation software:

As you can see "vCenter Server migration installed completed successfully" great

The install.bat script will continue and check again if the selected VUM ports are available and if the copied data migratable is for the new VUM database location

 

 

 

 

 

 For VMware Update Manager you need to create a 64-Bit DSN. You can create this here: C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe .. oke, thats done.. select the VUM (already created before installation) database.

 

 

 

 

The installation and patch download location is by default C:\.. I prefer to install this data on a separate disk.. so I changed the installation path to D:\…\.. 

 

 

 

Now you can connect your vCenter server and manage your hosts and VM's.. sometimes you can't!

Tip before connect the vCenter:

- Reboot your new vCenter 4.1 server;

- On the ESX host: Restart your management services: service mgmt-vmware restart

- On the ESX host: Use a text editor to view/change the IP address inside the xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx tags the following file:/etc/opt/vmware/vpxa/vpxa.cfg

Finally result:

 

 

 

Successful migration process of vCenter 4.0 to new 4.1 server.