In This article, we are going to learn the way with which we can get ourselves to this revolutionary vSphere 7.0 environment using techniques like vCenter Server Converge Upgrade or Migration.
In vSphere 6.x the support Deployment models are shown as below:
- vCenter Server with embedded Platform Services Controller: The Platform Services Controller services are installed in the same appliance as the vCenter Server services.
- vCenter Server with external Platform Services Controller: The Platform Services Controller services are installed as a separate appliance to the vCenter Server services.
vCenter Server deployment models define how the vCenter Server services are made available to users:
- You can install vCenter Server with an embedded or external Platform Services Controller on a Microsoft Windows virtual machine or physical server.
- You can deploy the vCenter Server Appliance with an embedded or external Platform Services Controller.
vCenter Server 7.0 Deployment Enhancements
- vCenter Server 7.0 supports only vCenter Server Appliance with embedded Platform Services Controller. It does not support the deployment of external Platform Services Controller.
- vCenter Server 7.0 does not support vCenter Server for Windows.
Advantages of this Feature:
- No extra VM for Platform Services Controller
- No extra Windows license for the Platform Services Controller node
- No load balancer needed
- No separate procedure to converge vCenter Server with external Platform Services Controller to vCenter Server with embedded Platform Services Controller.
vCenter Server Converge Upgrade or Migration
vSphere 7.0 introduces the converge upgrade:
- Conversion and upgrade occur at the same time.
- The converge upgrade is part of the vCenter Server Appliance installer.
- The converge upgrade supports the upgrade from vCenter Server Appliance versions 6.5 and 6.7.
Upgrade Path:
| 6.0 U1 | 6.0 U2 | 6.0 U3 | 6.5 | 6.5 U1 | 6.5 U2 | 6.7 (All) | 7.0 |
6.0 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | NO |
6.0 U1 |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | NO |
6.0 U2 |
|
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | NO |
6.0 U3 |
|
|
| NO | Yes | Yes | Yes | NO |
6.5 |
|
|
|
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
6.5 U1 |
|
|
|
|
| Yes | Yes | Yes |
6.5 U2 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Yes | Yes |
6.7 (All) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Yes |
See the VMware Product Interoperability Matrix at https://partnerweb.vmware.com/comp_guide2/sim/interop_matrix.php#upgrade.
Upgrade Sequence:
In Short upgrade vCenter First and then ESXi. However, if you have other products that you are thinking of getting upgraded. Please refer to the Vmware Article:
Update sequence for vSphere 7.0 and its compatible VMware products (78221) : https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/78221
Upgrade Prerequisite:
- vCenter version prior to vCenter 6.5 is not supported. You will have to upgrade first to version 6.5 or 6.7 and then proceed with the upgrade/converge to 7.0.
- Back up the source vCenter Server and all the required data from the database.
- Resource Requirements are based on the deployment model that you choose.
- vSphere 7.0 has increased memory requirements compared with version 6.7. This increase is handled automatically during upgrade.
- If you don’t have enough free memory at a destination when you attempt the upgrade. The upgrade process will find it, during the precheck stage.
- If you do not meet the minimum requirement the upgrade process will not proceed.
For More information on What’s New with vSphere
7.0 Please refer to: https://knowitlikepro.com/category/vmware/whats-new-in-vsphere-7-0/
