vCenter 6.0.0

[vmuser3452]

Hi

We are currently using vCenter v6.0.0 Build 3634793

The advisory mentions vCenter 6.5 and up being vulnerable. Does anyone know v6.0 is also at risk or is that version not checked due to age?

Thank you

[Owen Sheehy]

Hi,

VMSAs do not include products past the end of general support.

As such, I would strongly recommend that you upgrade to a supported version as soon as possible.

 

Thanks

 

 

 

[garegaergaergae]

How do you install an upgrade? When I try to go to vcenter, it complains about flash (!) not being installed. 

[Ravi Shankar]

To perform a major upgrade you need to either follow the CLI or UI procedure.

I would recommend following VMware's official document for vcenter server upgrade or migration.

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/vsphere-vcenter-server-70-upgrade-guide.pdf

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/index.html

I have one question here, your 6.0 VC is it a VCSA appliance, or is it installed on windows?

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they helped.

 

[garegaergaergae]

I don't know. All I have is an IP address. When I connect to it, it asks me to login, and when I do, it tells me I cannot do anything until Flash is installed, which is out of support. 

When I want to manage my VMs, I've always used vSphere client, which does't require Flash. 

Thanks for your link, but is it really required to read a 196 page document to install updates?

[Ravi Shankar]

You can refer to the upgrade procedure for the version you are planning to upgrade. I don't think you have to go through the entire document.

Since it's 6.0 do you have the vSphere client installed on any windows machine? if yes then you can log in to VC via vsphere client.

Yes, flash is out of support so you can't log in. 

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they helped.

[garegaergaergae]

Thanks for your reply.

I've vSphere client installed on my laptop, and I'm able to connect to some overview where I can see all my servers. Is that vCenter? I've looked around, but I cannot find an update button. When I click 'Help > Check for updates' it just opens a browser to:

https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/downloads/#all_products

Under Administration > vCenter Server settings there's something about licensing, but nowhere to update/upgrade. 

When I click on Help > About, it shows:

vSphere Client - version 6.0.0
VMware vCenter Server - Version 6.0.0

I want to install all available (security?) updates/patches for which we have a license. Can you link me to a guide to do that?

[Ravi Shankar]

Can you find where your VC VM is built? you should know this before you decide to upgrade/migrate.

You should also find whether your VC is a VCSA appliance or if it is installed on windows?

 

[garegaergaergae]

I believe it is installed in Windows, as there is a Windows machine on the same IP address, and on that machine is a folder called: VMware\vCenter Server with the following files/folders:

autodeploy
bin
cis-license
cis_upgrade_runner
cm
common-jars
common-libs
eam
eula
firstboot
invsvc
jmemtool
jre
jre_ext
mbcs
netdump
openSSL
perfcharts
python
python-modules
rhttpproxy
ruby
rvc
sca
tcServer
vapi
vdcs
virgo
visl-integration
vmafdd
vmcad
vmdird
vmsyslogcollector
VMware Identity Services
vmware-psc-client
vmware-sasl
vmware-sps
vmware-sso
vmware-upgrade
vmware-vws
vPostgres
vpxd
vsan-health
vsm
WebClient
workflow
open_source_license.txt
vcs.ico

I don't understand what you mean by where a VM is built. Besides, this machine is a physical host, not a virtual machine. 

[Ravi Shankar]

From your message, I understand VC is installed on a windows machine.
So if you want to upgrade windows VC from 6.0 you will have 2 paths 

1. Windows to windows Upgrade - https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.7/com.vmware.vcenter.upgrade.doc/GUID-FAE9F53E-79B1-45FD-B109-6860E1ED3607.html#:~:text=You%20can%20upgrade%20your%20vCenter,of%20the%20vCenter%20Server%20upgrade.

2. Windows to VCSA appliance migration - https://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2018/10/vcenter-server-windows-migrations.html

Do you have the PSC installed on the same windows machine or installed on a separate Windows machine?

This KB should help you to find whether you PSC is embedded or external -https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/83193

 

[garegaergaergae]

Hello rnandula, 

Thanks for your help in getting me to fix this. I'm not sure what a PSC is, and I cannot follow the instructions you've sent me, because my vSphere client looks very different from the image in https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/83193. 

In vCenter Server 6.x GUI:

1. Log into the vSphere Client as a user with administrator access.
2. Select Menu > Administration > Deployment > System Configuration.

 

There is no Menu option. The choices are: File, Edit, Inventory, Administration, Plug-ins and Help. When I click on Administration, the options are:

- Custom atributes

- vCenter Server Settings

- edit message of the day

- Export System log

When I click on vCenter Server Settings, the options are: Licensing, Statistics, Runtime Settings, Active Directory, Mail, SNMP, Ports, Timeout Settings, Logging Options, Database, Database Retention Policy, Advanced Settings. 

As you can see, it really does not match the description.

 

The other option is SSH, but when I try that:

ssh: connect to host IPADDRESS port 22: Connection refused

[Ravi Shankar]

  Please run the below command from your VC windows machine

C:\Program Files\VMware\vCenter Server\vmafdd\vmafd-cli get-ls-location --server-name localhost

Please follow the https://williamlam.com/2015/09/which-platform-services-controller-psc-is-my-vcenter-server-pointing-to.html

 

[garegaergaergae]

the response is:

 

https://hostname_of_machine_running_vCenter.domain.local/lookupservice/sdk

[Ravi Shankar]

Then it's an embedded windows VC. You can follow any one of these paths,

1. Windows to windows Upgrade - https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.7/com.vmware.vcenter.upgrade.doc/GUID-FAE9F53E-79B1-45FD....

2. Windows to VCSA appliance migration - https://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2018/10/vcenter-server-windows-migrations.html

[garegaergaergae]

Okay, thanks for all your help, and for your patience answering my ignorant questions, I will follow the guide you linked in 1.

[Ravi Shankar]

Please take a backup before you start upgrading the VC.

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they helped.

[Ravi Shankar]

vCenter Server 6.0 is the end of General support on March 12th, 2020 - https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/66977#:~:text=The%20End%20of%20General%20Support%20for%20vSphere%206.0%20is%20March,vSphere%206.5%20or%20vSphere%206.7.

It is highly recommended to upgrade your VC to the latest support version.

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they helped.