For those of you out there running a windows based vCenter 6.5 Server I thought I would put together a guide to help you with your migration to the vCenter 6.7 Appliance.
The following post will walk you through migrating your Windows based Platform Services Controller and vCenter Server to two separate 6.7 Appliances. Update Manager is built into the vCenter Appliance so we won’t be migrating our old windows one but I will mention the steps when required.
First off connect to your Platform Services Controller and mount the vCenter 6.7 Appliance ISO.
Then launch the VMware-Migration-Assistant located at E:\Vmware VCSA\migration-assistant
Login with your Administrator@vsphere.local credentials
The Migration Assistant scripts will now start extracting
You should see the following screen when the Migration Assistant is ready
Then launch the installer located at E:\Vmware VCSA\vcsa-ui-installer\win32\installer
Click on Migrate
Click Next to start the Migration Wizard
Accept the agreement and click Next
Enter the Source Platform Services Controller IP Address and SSO account details, then click Next
Click Yes on the Certificate prompt. Then enter the vCenter or ESXi host connection details and click Next
Select the Datacenter where this VM will be deployed and click Next
Select the host to deploy the VM on and click Next
Click Yes on the Certificate prompt. Enter the VM name and set the root password. Then click Next
Select the datastore you would like to use and enable Thin Disk Mode if you prefer, then click Next
Configure the network settings for the VM, this will be a temporary address for the initial deployment. The correct address will come across when the migration starts.
Then click Next
Review your settings and click Finish
Stage 1 will now start with deploying the new Platform Services Controller Appliance
Stage 1 completed successfully. Click Continue to move onto Step 2
Click Next to start Stage 2
Pre-migration checks will now run on the PSC. Then enter the credentials to join the server to the domain. Then click Next
Join the Vmware CEIP if you like then click Next
Review the settings and click Finish
Click OK to continue
The data transfer and cut over will now commence
The following information messages will be displayed outlining some changes. Click Close
Click Close to complete the process
Now it is time to migrate the vCenter Server. Launch the migration assistant on the vcenter server and enter the SSO password.
The VMware-Migration-Assistant is located at E:\Vmware VCSA\migration-assistant
If you have Update Manager on a separate server then start the migration assistant on that server also.
One thing to note is that if Update Manager is on a separate server and the migration assistant has issues then uninstall and remove Update Manager all together. It will be part of the new appliance once deployed.
Next lets run the vCenter Appliance installer from another management server
The installer located at E:\Vmware VCSA\vcsa-ui-installer\win32\installer
Click on Migrate
Then click Next
Accept the license agreement and click Next
Enter the Source vCenter Server details and click Next
Click Yes on the certificate prompt
Then enter the ESXi host or vCenter details to deploy the new appliance then click Next
Click Yes on the certificate prompt
Select the Datacenter and click Next
Select the host to deploy the appliance, then click Next
Enter the name for the new vCenter Server and the root password, then click Next
Select your deployment size and click Next to continue
Select the datastore and Enable thin disk mode, then click Next
Configure the network settings for the VM, this will be a temporary address for the initial deployment. The correct address will come across when the migration starts
Then click Next
Review your settings and click Finish to complete Stage 1
The new appliance is now being deployed, click Close
The new Appliance has now been deployed. Click Continue to move onto Step 2
Then its time to start Step 2. On the Introduction screen click Next
The installer will now connect to the source vcenter server and kick off the pre-migration steps
The Enter your credentials to join the server to the domain and click Next
Select the option you prefer for migrating the vCenter Data, then click Next
Review your settings then click Finish
Then click Ok to begin the Migration
The Migration will begin and you can monitor its progress as it moves through each of the stages
Once Complete you will see the information screen outlining some of the changes in vCenter 6.7. Click Close to continue
The migration is now complete, click on the link located below to access your vCenter 6.7 Server Appliance
I hope this post has helped you with your vCenter migration project!
Subscribe above for new post notifications!
