upgrade VC in a cluster

VC upgrading procedures documentation

Configuration Overview
Step 1: Upgrade vCenter Server software on the primary node.
Step 2: Upgrade vCenter Server software on the secondary node.
Step 3: Set up clustering with vCenter.
Step 4: Synchronize the cluster and bring it online, replicate roles from primary node to secondary node.

Prerequisites
• Full backup of the VirtualCenter database prior to the upgrade.
• No major error reported on the VC and ESX hosts.
• vCenter server version 4.0 (update 1) software accessible on both the nodes.
• Licenses for vCenter Server 4.0.
• Login ID with the authorized rights to perform upgrade on the SQL databases.
• Bring the VC services offline from the cluster during the whole upgrading timeframe.

Upgrading steps in detail
Step 1: Upgrade vCenter Server software on the primary node.
1.1 Bring the VC services offline from the cluster (or shutdown the secondary node)
1.2 Start the installer on the primary node
1.3 Process to upgrade the VC database (requires the user with the privileges to perform the upgrade)
1.4 Wait for the database upgrade process to complete successfully
1.5 Process continue with the vCenter Server upgrade
1.6 Make sure the vCenter Server upgrade completes successfully and able to login to the vCenter Server

Step 2: Upgrade vCenter Server software on the secondary node.
2.1 Stop the vCenter server services on primary node
2.2 Copy the SSL folder from “All Users\Application Data\Virtual Center\SSL” from primary node to the secondary node
2.3 Create the DSN with same name on the secondary node pointing to the primary VC database
2.4 Start the installer on the secondary node
2.5 Select the option to use the existing database and select the created DSN
2.6 On the “Database re-initialization warning” page, select the option “not to overwrite the data”
2.7 Continue with the standard option for the upgrade
2.8 After completing the installation, make sure the service is running


Step 3: Set up clustering with vCenter.
3.1 Shutdown the secondary node
3.2 Login to the primary node as the domain administrator
3.3 Make sure the vCenter Server is running
3.4 Open the Cluster Administrator
3.5 Select and right-click on the “Cluster Group” > New > Resource
3.6 Enter “VCMSDS” as the name and select resource type as “Generic Service”
3.7 Add both of the nodes; add the “Cluster IP Address”, “Cluster Name” and Quorum disk as dependencies.
3.8 Enter the service name as “ADAM_VMwareVCSDS” (subjective to SIM preference)
3.9 Repeat the steps for VMware Web services
3.10 Ensure vCenter resource as the dependency service
3.11 Enter the service name with “vctomcat” (subjective to SIM preference)
3.12 Bring the services online
3.13 Power up secondary node

Step 4: Synchronize the cluster and bring it online, replicate roles from primary node to secondary node.
4.1 Login to secondary node
4.2 Stop the vCenter server and Web access services
4.3 Run the following command: \jointool.bat rawReplica –remoteHost --remotePort
4.4 Start the vCenter server and Web access services on the cluster
4.5 Test the cluster services
4.6 Upgrade completed