This short document shows how you would upgrade an earlier version of VMware VirtualCenter to the current version 2.5. It is assumed that the database is located on a SQL Server or Oracle database server. Once the VirtualCenter has been upgraded, it is advisable to upgrade the ESX servers to the latest version of VMware ESX, the 3.5 – HERE.

We must run the VirtualCenter installer as if it were a new installation of the 2.5 (New VirtualCenter Installation 2.5 – HERE) on the VirtualCenter server we have, we must connect to the existing VirtualCenter DB using ODBC and it will detect that it is an obsolete version, will upgrade it to version 2.5 and of course the application binaries.

During the installation process we must connect against the database that we have hosted on our SQL or Oracle server, we connect with an ODBC connection that we have already configured in the “System DSN” in the “Administrative Tools”. We configure the credentials and continue with the wizard.

It alerts us that this DSN is pointing to an old database and that it will update to the current version. Accept.

Of course the service “SQL Server Agent” must be logged into the DB server. “Accept”, and we continue with the update of the VirtualCenter.

During the installation process, The database update wizard will skip, logically before continuing, we will make sure we have a backup of the database. “Next”, to begin the update…

… Wait a few seconds…

In the wizard it asks us what kind of information we would like to keep, as well as dynamic data such as events or tasks or performance data. We mark what interests us, “Next”,

We check a summary of the update, Click on “Start” to update the DB now.

… we wait a while depending on the size of our DB…

Ok, It is advisable to take a look at the log (VCDatabaseUpgrade.log) Before you go on with everything, even if the assistant says everything has gone correctly. “Finish”.

And nothing, Now it's just follow through with the rest of the installation wizard and wait for it to finish.

After the update wizard is complete, we can open the Virtual Infrastructure Client console, connect to our VirtualCenter and from “Help” > “About…” we'll look at the VMware VirtualCenter version, You must put a version 2.5.0, with the Build that corresponds to us.

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