Prerequisites For The Vcenter Server Upgrade - VMware ESX 4.0 - UPGRADE GUIDE UPDATE 1 Update Manual

vSphere Upgrade Guide
Table 5-1. Upgrading vCenter Server Components (Continued)
Product
License server
ESX

Prerequisites for the vCenter Server Upgrade

Before you begin the upgrade to vCenter Server, make sure you have the vCenter Server system and the
database are properly prepared.
vCenter Server Prerequisites
The following items are prerequisites for completing the upgrade to vCenter Server:
VirtualCenter Server 2.x installed on a machine that supports vCenter Server 4.0.
n
VMware vCenter Server 4.0 installation media.
n
License keys for all purchased functionality.
n
If you do not currently have the license key, you can install in evaluation mode and use the vSphere Client
to enter the license key later.
40
Component
VirtualCenter Server 2.0
VirtualCenter Server 2.5
vCenter Server 4.0
Oracle database
SQL database
Linked Mode
License server
ESX 2.5 host
VMFS2 volumes
ESX2 virtual machines
VMDK2 virtual disk
ESX MUI
VMware Tools
ESX 3.x/ESXi 3.5 host
VMFS3 volumes
ESX3 virtual machines
VMDK3 virtual disk
Description
Upgrade
Upgrade
Install
Verify that your database is supported. Upgrade if necessary.
Oracle 9i is no longer supported.
Verify that your database is supported. Upgrade if necessary.
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 is no longer supported.
Cannot join a Linked Mode group during the upgrade procedure.
Join after the upgrade to vCenter Server is complete.
To manage ESX 3.x/ESXi 3.5 hosts, verify that the vCenter Server
system is configured to use a license server. Install a license server
if necessary.
Supported with vCenter Server 4.0, but cannot add the hosts to
clusters.
Supported as read-only (deprecated)
Support for ESX 2 virtual machines (virtual hardware version 3)
starts with ESX 2. Support continues through ESX 4.0. Upgrade is
optional, but strongly recommended.
The file layout introduced with ESX 2. Support continues through
ESX 4.0. This is a single file with meta-data at the end.
No change
Upgrade (optional)
Upgrade to ESX 4.0 (optional)
No change
Support for ESX 3 virtual machines (virtual hardware version 4)
starts with ESX 3. Support continues through ESX 4.0. Upgrade is
optional.
The file layout introduced with ESX 3. Support continues through
ESX 4.0. This is a two-file layout where a small descriptor file points
to a data-file. This format allows features such as multiple
snapshots.
VMware, Inc.