Consolidate vCenters

[alfi33]

I've got two vCenter servers. I need to consolidate them into 1.

The vCenter I'd like to get rid of:

vCenter 2.5

Two 3.5 ESX hosts in a cluster

Four configured Resource Pools

25 VMs

Uses a local SQL Express database

The vCenter I'd like to keep:

vCenter 4.0

One 4.0 ESX host

11 VMs

Uses a remote SQL 2008 database

What's the easiest way to do this? Can I just disconnect the two hosts from the vCenter I'm leaving, and then add them to the vCenter I'm keeping (and recreate the Resource Pools)? What will I lose by doing this?

[AndreTheGiant]

You can simple power-off one vCenter and add the relative hosts to the remaining vCenter.

You have to recreate resource pools, reinstall the HA agent (use reconfigure for HA) and install a license server on the vCenter 4.0 or use and external one (for the 3.5 hosts).

You will loose old performance datas of the 3.5 hosts.

Andre

[alfi33]

Sounds easy enough. I don't care too much about losing the old performance data.

So I don't need to worry about having the 3.5 hosts up to a certain patch level or anything? Can a 3.0 host be added to vCenter 4.0?

[Troy_Clavell]

So I don't need to worry about having the 3.5 hosts up to a certain patch level or anything? Can a 3.0 host be added to vCenter 4.0?

see here for vSphere Compatibility Matrixes

[alfi33]

...install a license server on the vCenter 4.0 or use and external one (for the 3.5 hosts).

OK, I'm now concerned about licensing for when I switch the old hosts to the new 4.0 vCenter. The license server for the 3.5 hosts is running on the old vCenter. So, obviously, if I power that down they won't be able to get a license.

Can I just kill the vCenter service on the old server (but leave the server running) and then add the hosts to the new 4.0 vCenter? Will the 3.5 hosts still know where to go to get their licenses after switching vCenter servers? If not, how do I tell them to look at the same license server they've been using?

If I want to install a license server on the new vCenter server, how do I tell the 3.5 hosts where the new license server is?

Thanks for all the help.

[a_p_]

In vCenter server licensing you can enter the location of the "old" license server e.g. "[e-mail]".

No matter whether you leave the old license server running or install a new one, just point to the correct one, that's all.

André