© 2010 VMware Inc. All rights reserved
Tales from the Trenches:Upgrading to vSphere 6
2
Introduction
• 5 Active VMware Certifications
• Cisco CCENT, EMCISA, Veeam,
NetApp
• Paul Woodward Jr.
• Twitter - @ExploreVM
• Systems Engineer, Presidio
3
What’s New in vSphere 6?
• Platform Services Controller
• Improved Web Client!
• Cross-Datacenter vMotion
• 100ms RTT
• Fault Tolerant VMs up to 4 vCPUs
• Increased Compute:
• VMs – 128 vCPU, 4TB vRAM
• Hosts – 480 CPU, 12 TB RAM, 1024 VMs per, 64 Nodes per Cluster
• NVIDIA GRID vGPU
• Per VM Network IO Control on vDS
• Content Library
4
Upgrade Order
1. Platform Services Controller
2. vCenter Server
3. vSphere Replication
4. Site Recovery Manager
5. ESXi Hosts
5
PSC & vCenter Server
“Platform Services Controller (PSC) is a component of the VMware Cloud Infrastructure Suite. PSC deals with identity management for administrators and applications that interact with the vSphere platform”
Platform Services controller provides the following services: VMware Appliance Management Service – Appliance Only
VMware License Service
VMware Component Manager
VMware Identity Management Service
VMware HTTP Reverse Proxy
VMware Service Control Agent
VMware Security Token Service
VMware Common Logging Service
VMware Syslog Health Service
VMware Authentication Framework
VMware Certificate Service
VMware Directory Service
6
Platform Services Controller Continued
Placement of the PSC is important!
Embedded works well for small environments
PSC can be migrated the following ways (vSphere 6.0 U1):
• Internal to External
• External to External within a site
• External to External across sites
You CANNOT migrate from an external PSC to an embedded PSC
7
vCenter Server Upgrade
Windows vCenter Connect the vCenter 6 ISO 2 Options:• Simple Install
• Install each component manually
Simple – all features on the same box
Use manual to break up features to different servers
vCenter Server Appliance VCSA 5.1 U3 or VCSA 5.5+ Client Integration Plug In
Launch the Installer
Point to the existing vCSA
Enter appliance size, datastore, and network information
Finish wizard and verify completion in the console session
8
vSphere Replication & Site Recovery Manager
vSphere Replication
• Must be upgraded before SRM
• Attach the ISO to the appliance
• Connect to the VAMI interface via web browser
• Verify “Use CDROM Updates”
• Scan for updates, Install, Reboot
• Clear Browser Cache – Log back in
• Configure the connection to Lookup Services & SSO
• Save and Restart services
Site Recovery Manager
• Upgrade the protected site first
• Download the .exe from VMware
• Follow the Install Wizard
• Enter PSC & SSO info
• Verify vCenter & vCenter Extension info
• Verify SRM Database info
• Verify remote vCenter IP
• Log out of the web client, clear cache, and log back in to view upgraded SRM plugin
9
VUM & ESXi Host Upgrading
Update Manager Now available in the Web Client• Plugin will appear after upgrade to VUM
6.0
Package available on the vCenter ISO
Take sizing into consideration if deploying Update Manager Download Service
Host Upgrade Same as before!• Download updates
• Scan hosts
• Remediate
ESXi 5.5 U3 needs to be upgraded to 6.0 ASAP• 5.5 U2 can be managed by vCenter 6.0
10
Other VMware Components
• vRealize Automation, Config Manager, Business Manager• vCloud Director, Networking & Security• NSX Manager & Controllers• View Composer & Connection Server
11
Other Components Continued
12
Bugs Encountered
• vSphere Replication from 5.8 failed• Per VMware support, upgrading to 6.0/6.1 is “very buggy”• Embedded database fails to upgrade – New parameters in the 6.0+ DB• FIX: Rebuild vSphere Replication & Site Recovery Manager environment
• Hosts Disappear from the Web Client Hosts & Clusters View• Hosts vanish after refreshing web client or trying to view host information• Performance / services are not affected• FIX: Stop Web Services, Clear the Serenity Database
• C:\Programdata\vmware\vCenterServer\data\vSphere Web Client\SerentiyDB\Serentiy
• Unable to load OVF Templates via the Web Client After Upgrade• “Unable to verify that the OVF can be uploaded” & “Unable to connect to the host”• Issue unknown by VMware Support• FIX: Disable IPv6 on the Host? • FIX: Rebuild vCenter
13
Tips & Recommendations
• Release notes are your friend!• Leave yourself an out
• Snapshots are also your friend
• However, do not forget to delete your friendly snapshot afterwards
• Prepare for the upgrade:• Have a check list laid out of each component in the order you need to upgrade
• Stage the update files
• Passwords, IPs, Database locations, etc…
14
Shameless Promotion – Virtual Design Master!
Virtualdesignmaster.io
@vDMChallenge #VirtualDesignMasterInternational, community based design competition
offering learning, networking, cash and prizes!
15
Resources and Links
My Blog: ExploreVM.com
Slide Deck: http://
www.slideshare.net/PaulWoodwardJr/20160523-wivmug-user-con-vsph
ere-6-upgrade
VMware Hands On Labs: http://labs.hol.vmware.com
Update Sequence for vSphere 6: http://vexpert.me/KB2109760
Upgrading to 6.0 Best Practices: http://vexpert.me/KB2109772
vSphere DB Upgrade KB: http://vexpert.me/VR
vSphere PSC FAQ: http://vexpert.me/KB2113115
Apps
© 2010 VMware Inc. All rights reserved
Thank You!Any questions?