Building new vCenter server and migrating hosts to it.

[Ariakas]

Hi all,

I'm looking for insight to see if my vCenter server build and host migration plan will work.

Some background info:

Currently have 3 ESXi 5.1 host in a Datacenter cluster on a vCenter server utilizing vDS.  We are looking to move those 3 hosts to their own separate vCenter server which will involve a new vCenter install.

The ESXi hosts are in a Cisco Netapp Flexpod setup, 2 x 10gb connection with UCS fabric presenting 4 vnics.

**note we are going to have 2 separate vCenter environment, the 5.1 and new 5.5.  It's for two geographic region who will be independent**

Here's what I will attempt to do:

1. Remove 1 vnic from hosts (currently 4 vnic - 2 for mgmt, vmotion, servers, 2 for storage).  Use that vnic to create virtual standard switch for one ESX host A, move all services (vmotion, mgmt, servers, storage) to that VSS.
2. Remove ESX host A from current vCenter.  Log on via root and setup new SQL server for vCenter.  Afterwards build new vCenter 5.5 server.
3. Add ESX host A to new vCenter 5.5.
4. Export vDS settings from old vCenter 5.1.
5. Disconnect and remove hosts from old vCenter 5.1.
6. Connect hosts to new vCenter 5.5.
7. Import vDS settings to vCenter 5.5.
8. Migrate ESX host VSS network to vDS.

Does this plan work?

Thanks in advance for your insight.

[Vivek Singh]

Hi Ariakas,

You said "Currently have 3 ESXi 5.1 host in a Datacenter cluster on a vCenter server utilizing vDS..." and you want them to be moved to new vCenter. So why don't you move the older vCenter Database to the new vCenter, by this you will not have to do all these things. By doing that, you don't have to worry about the steps you have mentioned.

Take the backup of the older vCenter DB and when you are installing the new vCenter 5.5, point the Database to the older one. That should be all unless you are upgrading the DB as well.

Thanks,

Nick

[Ariakas]

Hi Nick,

Thanks for your reply.  Actually we are keeping the old 5.1 vCenter environment.  This net new vCenter 5.5 is for a different geographic region who will manage their own vCenter environment.

Thanks.

[btkrausen]

Have a look through this: http://virtuallymyown.com/2014/02/03/migrating-existing-vmware-environment-to-a-new-vcenter/

[King_Robert]

please go through the complete information given in the below URL to build a new Vcenter server and migrate the ESX host.

http://virtuallymyown.com/2014/02/03/migrating-existing-vmware-environment-to-a-new-vcenter/

[sstewartcosm]

That link does not work.

[btkrausen]

Here you go...the blog above was migrated to a new domain: Migrating Existing VMware Environment to a New vCenter | IT Diversified