backing up and restoring your ESXi configuration

[bleuze]

Hi This is my first post.

I have inherited an esxi 6.0 host (Del Poweredge R730) with 4 VMs on it. The VMs are servers essential to running the business.

I am planning to update this host to esxi 6.5 this weekend using vCenter update manager. The vcenter update manager documentation (https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.5/com.vmware.vsphere.update_manager.doc/GUID-90AA4FDB-B29B-4F7F-A400-38EFC4110024.html) tells me:

"Back up your host configuration before performing an upgrade. If the upgrade fails, you can reinstall the ESXi 5.5.x or ESXi 6.0.x software that you upgraded from, and restore your host configuration. For more information about backing up and restoring your ESXi configuration, see vSphere Upgrade."

I have searched for "vSphere Upgrade." The best I can find is: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.5/com.vmware.vsphere.upgrade.doc/GUID-18B7B4BB-C24A-49CD-AE76-13285157B29F.html but I can't find any information on backing up the configuration.

But we do have full nightly veeam backups of theses VMs and I have successfully done a test restore on to a different host (running esxi 6.5). So I do have a tested workable option if the upgrade fails. But is there something I can do to "backup the esxi configuration" that would make it easier to revert if for some reason I have to?

And to reinstall the old esxi6.0 I asume that means to burn the Dell customized ISO to a DVD and boot the server from it and follow the prompts...? But if I am doing that, whole process, would it not make more sense to just install from the 6.5 DVD. The original install was factory provided by Dell.

I will be doing this on a Sunday. The business is closed and servers can be offline all day if required.

[Martin Gustafsson]

Hi,

Here's the procedure to backup the ESXi configuration, VMware Knowledge Base

Reinstall would be to boot the Dell OEM ISO (usb, sd, pxe, cd/dvd or iDRAC) and follow the wizard, reinstallation does not overwrite any virtual machine data unless told to.

[bleuze]

Thanks Martin

I had a look and, well since I didn't have vmware cli for windows (or whatever it is called) that is needed to do this, so I went ahead an upgraded without backing up. It all worked without problems. It is on my list though now to install the cli tools now that I know about it.

[mprazeres183]

Hi bleuze​,

I don't know if this will be the first time you perform an update? But if so, first of all don't worry about the process.

We have over 500 ESXi Hosts worldwide with something over 25'000 vGuests and I never ever took a backup of a Host before installing an Update.

The only think you have to know is this:

Get your configuration written somewhere in your documentation:

IP Address of the ESXi Host, Subnet, Gateway, which Adapter you are using.

This are essential things that each IT professional should keep recorded at all times, we do have Installation Qualification Documents where we keep track of each ESXi Host and how it's configured.

Now, when you use VUM (vSphere Update Manager) you are creating Baselines or using the ones given by VMWare as a default.
When you hit the stage button it will trigger your Host to install the Updates, it will then reboot automaticlly and it will come up alone.

After about 10 to 30 Minutes your system will be up and running again.

IF, and that never happend to me since I'm using ESXi 4.1 the Host would not reboot and stuck or be damaged.
Just reinstall the ESXi version you had. (Make sure that the vGuest Configuration is not running on the System Partition where the ESXi is installed) What I hope is not the case, as this is NOT at all to be done! So if you reinstall then ESXi you can then just re-add all the IP Information, add it back to the vCenter, configure the Network and then just add the vGuests by Browsing the Datastores and adding the VMX files of the vGuests back to the inventory.

But as I sayed I bet you 1 BitCoin that this will never happen! (It never happend to me and other collegues that I know of)

Best of luck!
Marco

[bleuze]

Thanks Marco

I went ahead and just upgraded and it worked just fine. Based on your experience of it always going ahead without a hitch I was less worried about backing up the config

[mprazeres183]

Hi bleuze​,

I'm pretty sure that in some cases a ESXi Configuration export meight bring some benefits.

But in 99 of 100 cases you will be able just to go trough the upgrade without any issues.

I'm glad it worked out for you.

Best regards,
Marco