Quick guide to upgrade from vCenter Server 7.0 to 8.0
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Quick guide to upgrade from vCenter Server 7.0 to 8.0

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Article ID: 372863

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Updated On:

Products

VMware vCenter Server 7.0 VMware vCenter Server 8.0

Issue/Introduction

This guide provides crucial steps and procedures to perform vCenter migration, covering preparation, deployment of the new vCenter Server Appliance during the upgrade and data transfer.

Resolution

To migrate from vCenter Server 7 to vCenter Server 8.0, follow these detailed steps:

1. Preparation

  • Check Compatibility - Use the VMware by Broadcom Product Interoperability Matrix to ensure that all your VMware products and third-party applications are compatible with vCenter Server 8.0. 
  • Check Certificates - Follow the kb  Verify vCenter Server certificates
  • Reboot - Reboot the vCenter to make sure there are no pending reboots
  • Backup - Make sure your vCenter Server and all important data in your vSphere environment is backed up to prevent data loss during the upgrade using kb Back up and restore vCenter Server Appliance
  • Take snapshots of the vCenter VM. If the vCenter is in Enhanced Linked Mode (ELM), ALL VC's in ELM must be powered off together and snapshots taken when ALL are powered off, NOTE: if you need to revert one snapshot - you need to revert all. For more information see vCenter in Enhanced Linked Mode pre-changes snapshot best practice
  • Upgrading to vCenter Server 8.0 requires an additional precheck for certificates with weak signature algorithms. The precheck ensures that vCenter Server is not using certificates with weak signature algorithms, such as sha1WithRSAEncryption. Certificates with weak signature algorithms are no longer supported in vSphere 8.0 in most contexts.
  • Use the VCF Diagnostic Tool for vSphere (VDT) is a multi product diagnostic tool that can be run directly on a vCenter Server appliance. It executes a series of checks on the system configuration and reports user-friendly PASS/FAIL/WARN results for known configuration issues
  • For upgrading vCenter in a High Availability Environment, remove vCenter HA see vCenter High Availability Environment.
  • Do not forget to change DRS to Partially Automated or Manual to prevent any DRS load balancing from occurring if the vCenter is located on a cluster that had DRS in a Fully Automated state.

2. Upgrade Sequence

3. Upgrade Procedure

  1. Download the Installer - Obtain the vCenter Server 8.0 installer ISO from https://support.broadcom.com but following the kb VMware vSphere Downloads
  2. Mount Installer- Mount the vCenter Server 8.0 installer ISO on a machine that has network access to the vSphere environment.
  3. Start the Installer- Navigate to the `vcsa-ui-installer` directory. Open the appropriate subdirectory for your operating system (e.g., `win32` for Windows) and run the installer executable.
  4. Follow the Upgrade Wizard

Stage 1: Deploy the New vCenter Server

  • Deployment Type: Select "Upgrade" to upgrade your existing vCenter Server to vCenter Serv
  • Source vCenter Server: Enter the details of the source vCenter Server (7.0). This includes the FQDN or IP address, SSO username, and password.
  • Target Deployment: Enter the information for the new vCenter Server Appliance, including its temporary IP address and network settings.
  • Deploy Appliance: The installer will deploy a new vCenter Server 8.0 appliance alongside the existing vCenter Server 7.0 appliance.
  • If the installer keep loading on below page, please try to access the new VCSA VAMI page with temporary IP and check if it is possible to click the "Upgrade" to continue the upgrade, if not, try another browser or further check the network between new and old VCSA:
    "
    vCenter Server 8.0 has been successfully installed. However,additional steps must be completed before it is available for use.Click one of the links below to continue setup
    "

Stage 2: Transfer Data and Settings   

     

  • Transfer Data: The installer will transfer data from the old appliance to the new vCenter Server 8.0 appliance.
  • You can choose the data transfer level (configuration, historical, or performance data). Configuration: Set up the configuration for the new appliance, including network settings, and review the configuration settings.
  • Do NOT proceed unless you have a valid VAMI backup. If you don't have a backup and encounter issues during installation that require restoration, without a backup, you will need to redeploy vCenter from scratch.

     

  • Finish: Complete the upgrade process, and the new vCenter Server 8.0 will take over the identity and responsibilities of the old vCenter Server 7.0.

4. Post-Upgrade Tasks

Verification

  • If any errors or issues occur during or after the installation, gather logs, screenshots, and other relevant information, and then revert to the snapshot. (especially if all are in ELM).
  • If using Enhanced Linked Mode (ELM), ensure that all vCenter servers are on the same version. They can only be on different versions during the upgrade process, which should be completed on the same day, with each vCenter upgraded sequentially.
  • If the installation competed successfully on stage 2 then log into the vSphere Client and verify that all data, configurations, and permissions have been correctly migrated.
  • Ensure that the new vCenter Server 8.0 is functioning as expected. 





Additional Information

For more detailed steps and specific configurations, you can refer to VMware's official documentation: vCenter Server Upgrade Documentation for vSphere 8.0

These resources provide comprehensive guides, example upgrade paths, and troubleshooting tips to ensure a smooth migration process.

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