Upgrading to ESX 4.0 and vCenter 4.0 best practices

KB Article: 1009039
http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1009039

Upgrading to ESX 4.0 and vCenter 4.0 best practices
Purpose
This article provides steps which may be useful when upgrading to ESX 4.0 and vCenter Server 4.0.


Note: This article assumes that you have read the vSphere Upgrade Guide. This upgrade guide contains definitive information. If there is a discrepancy between the guide and this article, assume that the guide is correct.

Note: ESX 4.0 Update 1a is available through Update Manager. For information related to upgrading to Update 1, see ESX 4.0 to ESX Update 1 (1016209).
Resolution
Note: Read the VMware vSphere 4.0 Release Notes for known installation issues.

On the vCenter Server
1.Make sure your hardware requirements are compliant:


•Processor – 2 CPUs 2.0GHz or higher Intel or AMD x86 processors. Processor requirements may be higher if the database runs on the same machine.
•Memory – 3GB RAM. RAM requirements may be higher if your database runs on the same machine.
•Disk storage – 2GB. Disk requirements may be higher if your database runs on the same machine.
•Networking – 1Gbit recommended.


2.Verify that your existing database is supported with vCenter Server 4.0. If it is not, upgrade your existing database to a supported type:


•Supported Microsoft SQL Server Databases:


•Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express

Note: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express is intended to be used for small deployments of up to 5 hosts and/or 50 virtual machines.


•Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard edition (SP1, SP2, SP3)
•Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard edition (SP2, SP3) 64bit
•Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise edition (SP1, SP2, SP3)
•Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise edition (SP2, SP3) 64bit
•Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition
•Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition 64bit
•Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition
•Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition 64bit


•Oracle Database Support:


•Oracle 10g Standard edition (Release 1 [10.1.0.3.0])
•Oracle 10g Enterprise edition (Release 1 [10.1.0.3.0])
•Oracle 10g Standard edition (Release 2 [10.2.0.1.0])
•Oracle 10g Enterprise edition (Release 2 [10.2.0.1.0])
•Oracle 10g Enterprise edition (Release 2 [10.2.0.1.0]) x64
•Oracle 11g Standard edition
•Oracle 11g Enterprise edition


3.Make a full backup of the vCenter database.


4.Make sure that you have the following permissions:


•Microsoft SQL:


•Grant the System DSN user of the vCenter Database db_owner privileges on the vCenter database.
•Grant the System DSN user of the vCenter Database db_owner privileges on the MSDB database.

Note: The db_owner privileges on the MSDB database are required for installation and upgrade only.


•Oracle:


•Grant dba permissions to the vCenter user.


5.Ensure that your ODBC System DSN is using the proper driver.

Microsoft SQL must use the SQL Native Client driver.


6.Stop the vCenter service. This step is recommended, especially if the vCenter database is on a remote system.

Click Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services > VMware VirtualCenter Server.


7.Log in to your vCenter Server with a Local Administrator account on your Windows system to run the upgrade.


8.Ensure no processes are running that conflict with the ports that vCenter uses.


9.Configure new vSphere 4.0 licences.

On the ESX Server
1.Make sure your hardware is compliant on the Hardware Compatibility Guide.

This includes:

•System compatibility

•I/O compatibility (Network and HBA cards)

•Storage compatibility

•Backup software compatibility


2.Make sure your current ESX version is supported for upgrade:

•Limited support for ESX 2.5.5. For more information, see the vSphere Upgrade Guide.

Note: There is no upgrade support for ESX 2.5.4 and below.


•Full upgrade support for ESX 3.0.1 and higher.

Note: ESX 3.0.0 needs to be upgraded to ESX 3.0.1 or higher before upgrading to ESX 4.0.


3.Server hardware for the ESX 4.0 must be 64bit compatible.


4.Make sure Intel VT is enabled in the host's BIOS.


5.If a SAN is connected to the ESX host, detach the fiber before continuing with the upgrade.

Note: Do not disable HBA cards in the BIOS.


6.Confirm that all virtual machines are migrated or powered down on the ESX host.


7.Upgrade to ESX Server 4.0.
Additional Information
For related information, see:
•Upgrading virtual machine on ESX 4.0 best practices (1010675)
•Installing ESX 4.0 and vCenter 4.0 best practices (1009080)