Step by Step procedures for vCenter Server and ESXi install and upgrade

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article intends to be a one-stop place to provide links to step by step procedures for ESXi and vCenter install and upgrade. The links below encompass scenarios relating to 

•  install and upgrade of vCenter and ESXi server,
•  migration of the vCenter from Windows to an appliance version,
•  upgrade of VMware tools and VM hardware using Update Manager.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7
VMware vCenter Server 7.0.x
VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.5.x
VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.7.x
VMware vCenter Server 6.7.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.0
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.5
VMware vCenter Server 6.5.x
VMware ESXi 6.0.x

Resolution

Upgrading vCenter Server from 6.5 to 6.7 - https://core.vmware.com/resource/upgrading-vcenter-server

Upgrading vCenter Server 6.5 to vCenter Server 6.7 using VCSA CLI
Upgrading vCenter Server 6.5 to vCenter Server 6.7
vSphere 6.5 Upgrade Considerations
Top Upgrade KB articles


Upgrading PSC and vCenter Server from 6.5 to 6.7 - https://core.vmware.com/resource/platform-services-vcenter-server-upgrade 

Walkthrough: Upgrading vCenter Server 6.5 to vCenter Server 6.7
Walkthrough: Upgrading vCenter Server 6.5 to vCenter Server 6.7 using VCSA CLI
Walkthrough: Windows vCenter Server 6.5 Embedded Migration to VCSA 6.7
Walkthrough: Windows External PSC 6.5 Migration to an External PSC 6.7 Appliance
Walkthrough: Windows vCenter Server 6.5 External Migration to VCSA 6.7
Blog: Upgrading Platform Services Controller and vCenter Server via the CLI Installer
Blog: Upgrading vCenter Server via the GUI Installer


VCSA Migration - https://core.vmware.com/resource/vcsa

Migration Assistant and Migration Tool
Windows External PSC 6.5 Migration to an External PSC 6.7 Appliance
Windows vCenter Server 6.5 External Migration to VCSA 6.7
Windows External PSC 6.0 Migration to an External PSC 6.5 Appliance
Windows vCenter Server 6.5 Embedded Migration to VCSA 6.7
Windows vCenter Server 6.0 External Migration to VCSA 6.5
Migration from vCenter Server 6.0 Embedded to VCSA 6.5
Video: PSC reconfiguration during migration
Video: Topology Considerations


ESXi Host Upgrade using Update Manager - https://core.vmware.com/resource/esxi-host-upgrade

Walkthrough: Using the Update Manager Interface to Upgrade from ESXi 6.5 to 6.7
Walkthrough: Upgrading a cluster with VUM
Blog: vSphere Upgrade Series Part 3: Upgrading vSphere Hosts
Using the Update Manager 6.7 Interface to Patch VMware ESXi 6.7 Hosts
Video: Faster Host Upgrades to vSphere 6.7


ESXi System Storage When Upgrading - https://core.vmware.com/resource/esxi-system-storage-when-upgrading

Overview
Storage Requirements Upgrades
Partition Layout
Upgrade Scenarios
First Boot Tasks


vSphere Update Manager - https://core.vmware.com/resource/vsphere-update-manager

Using the Update Manager Interface to Upgrade from ESXi 6.5 to 6.7
Using the Update Manager 6.7 Interface to Patch VMware ESXi 6.5 Hosts
Faster Host Upgrades to vSphere 6.7
Using the Update Manager 6.7 Interface to Patch VMware ESXi 6.7 Hosts
vSphere Quick Boot Demo
Upgrading a cluster with VUM
Terminology Overview


VMware Tools and Virtual Machine Hardware - https://core.vmware.com/resource/vmware-tools-and-virtual-machine-hardware

VMware Tools Lifecycle Video from VMworld 2017
Configure a Centralized VMware Tools Installation Repository
Overview of 3 Types of Tools
Updating Tools in a vSphere environment
Correlating Tools versions with ESXi releases
Tools 10.1 and 10.0.12 overview
Upgrading VM Compatibility using vSphere Update Manager
Upgrading VM Tools using vSphere Update Manager

Additional Information

vSphere Upgrade FAQ - https://core.vmware.com/resource/vsphere-upgrade-faq

Deployment Topologies
Migration
General
Management
Licensing
Interoperable Solutions
Networking
Storage
vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA)
Platform Services Controller (PSC)
 

Easier vCenter Server Updates with Update Planner - https://core.vmware.com/resource/easier-vcenter-server-updates-update-planner

Overview
Prerequisites
Update Planner To Conclude

Everything You Wanted To Know About VMware vSphere 7 Upgrade - https://core.vmware.com/resource/everything-you-wanted-know-about-vmware-vsphere-7-upgrade

Introduction
Why should you upgrade to vSphere 7?
Important information
Simplified SSO topology
Pre-upgrade considerations
Upgrade path
Upgrade Order
Upgrading with vCenter Server high Availability (VCHA)
Upgrading Load balanced vCenter Servers
Post Upgrade considerations