Upgrading to VMware vSphere 6.0

Upgrading to vSphere 6.0

MELBOURNE VMUG – AUGUST 11, 2016

TIM CARMAN – @TPCARMAN

Tim Carman

Senior Consulting Engineer – Data Centre Solutions

VMware vChampion

VCP6-DCV, VCAP5-DCA & VCAP5-DCD

Twitter: @tpcarman

Blog: www.timcarman.net

Agenda

vCenter Server 6.0 Architecture Changes & Upgrade Paths

Planning a vSphere 6.0 Upgrade

Upgrading to vCenter Server 6.0

Performing ESXi 6.0 Host Upgrades

VMworld US 2016 Announcements

End of General Support forvSphere 5.0 & 5.1

August 24, 2016

vCenter Server 6.0 Architecture Changes & Upgrade PathsDESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

vCenter Server 6.0 Components

Platform Services Controller

VMware vCenter Single Sign-On (SSO)

License Service

Lookup Service

VMware Directory Service

VMware Certificate Authority (VMCA)

vCenter Server

vCenter Server

vCenter Inventory Service

vPostgres Database

vSphere Web Client

vSphere Auto Deploy

vSphere ESXi Dump Collector

VMware vSphere Syslog Collector

Platform Services Controller Topologies

Six supported PSC topologies

vCenter Server with Embedded PSC

vCenter Server with External PSC

PSC in Replicated Configuration

PSC in HA Configuration

vCenter Server Deployment Across Sites

vCenter Server Deployment Across Sites with Load Balancer

List of recommended topologies for VMware vSphere 6.0 (2108548)http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2108548

Platform Services Controller Topology Decision Tree

http://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2016/04/platform-services-controller-topology-decision-tree.html

Adam Eckerle @eck79

Which vCenter Server Platform?

Metric Windows Appliance

No. of ESXi hosts 1,000 1,000

No. of powered-on VMs 10,000 10,000

No. of ESXi hosts per cluster 64 64

No. of VMs per cluster 8,000 8,000

Linked Mode Yes Yes

Database Support Postgres (embedded),SQL & Oracle

vPostgres (embedded)

High Availability vSphere HA, vSphere FT*WSFC/MSCS

vSphere HA, vSphere FT*

IPv6 Support Yes Yes

*FT can only be used to protect vCenter Server for the tiny and small deployment type, 2 vCPU and 4 vCPU, respectively.

vCenter Server Windows (VCS)

Advantages

Provides database support for MS-SQL & Oracle

AlwaysOn Availability for SQL DBs

Windows Server Failover Clustering

VMware administrators may find VCS easier to diagnose with existing knowledge and skillsets

Able to deploy VMware Update Manager, View Composer and/or Site Recovery Manager on the same machine

Support for physical vCenter host

Disadvantages

Windows Server licensing requirements

Host OS & Database interoperability

More effort required to deploy, configure and patch

Windows Operating System

ODBC

Database

vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA)

Advantages

Simple and rapid deployment and upgrade

Simplified backup and recoverability

Embedded vPostgres database

VMware's preferred deployment model

Full VMware support (end to end)

Disadvantages

Lack of support for MS-SQL & Oracle databases

Requires Windows Server for VMware Update Manager, View Composer and/or Site Recovery Manager

Provides fewer options to provide high availability for vCenter Server

Administrative skillsets require a shift from Windows to Linux for troubleshooting

Planning a vSphere 6.0 UpgradeWHAT TO DO BEFORE YOU BEGIN

“”

Be prepared son. That’s my motto. Be prepared.

JOE HALLENBECK – THE LAST BOY SCOUT

Upgrade Reference Materials

VMware vSphere 6.0 Upgrade Guide http://www.vmware.com/go/docs

VMware Compatibility Guide http://www.vmware.com/go/vcg

VMware Product Interoperability Matrix http://www.vmware.com/go/interop

VMware Knowledgebase Articles http://www.vmware.com/kb

vSphere Upgrade Centre http://www.vmware.com/go/vsphere-upgrade

VMware vCenter Server Deployment Guide

Third Party Vendor Support

VMware Compatibility Guide

VMware Interoperability Matrix

VMware KB Articles

Important information before upgrading to vSphere 6.0 (2110293)http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2110293

List of recommended Topologies for VMware vSphere 6.0 (2108548)http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2108548

Best practices for upgrading to vCenter Server 6.0 (2109772)http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2109772

Update sequence for vSphere 6.0 and its compatible VMware products (2109760)http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2109760

Platform Services Controller 6.0 FAQs (2113115)http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2113115

Supported host operating systems for VMware vCenter Server (2091273)http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2091273

vCenter Server Appliance 6.0 Reference Poster

http://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2016/07/introducing-the-vcenter-server-appliance-6-0-reference-poster.html

Emad Younis @Emad_Younis

vCenter Server Upgrades Walkthroughhttp://vmware.com/go/vsphere-upgrade-walkthrough

Create a Compatibility Matrix

Component

Backup, Compute, Storage, etc.

Sub-Component

Product, HW/SW Type, etc.

Specification

Current Version, OS, DB, etc.

Support Status

Action(s) Required

Upgrade to version x.y.z

Generate license(s)

Reference(s)

Links to support matrix & KB articles

Comments

Create a Compatibility Matrix

Compute

VMware ESXi Versions

BIOS / Firmware Revisions

Server Hardware

Network & Host Bus Adapters

I/O Modules (Blade Servers)

Storage Controllers (VSAN)

Storage

Software / Firmware Revisions

VAAI & VASA Support

Replication Software

Storage Replication Adapters

Create a Compatibility Matrix

Backup & Replication

Software Support

VM Hardware Levels

DR as a Service (DRaaS)

vCenter Server

Host OS Support

Database Support

SQL & Oracle

Resource Requirements

CPU

RAM

Storage

Create a Compatibility Matrix

vCenter Server Integration

VMware Update Manager

Host OS Support

Database Support

Site Recovery Manager

Host OS Support

Database Support

SRA Support

Horizon Suite

vRealize Suite

NSX

3rd Party Software

Plan Your Upgrade

Create an Implementation Plan

Roles and responsibilities

Schedules and timelines

Update sequence

Backups & snapshots

Create a Test Plan

Functionality Testing

Performance Testing

DR Failover Testing

Create a Rollback / Remediation Plan

Check your product support agreements

Know what to do & who to call if it all goes wrong

Upgrade & Migration Readiness

Create/Update As Built documentation

RVTools http://www.robware.net

vCenter Documentation Script http://blogs.serioustek.net/vcenter-documentation

Deploy the vCenter Support Assistanthttp://www.vmware.com/products/vcenter-support-assistant.html

Generate new vSphere 6.0 and other product licenses http://my.vmware.com

Perform an upgrade readiness assessment

Ensure there is sufficient free space on the datastore where vCenter Server resides to allow for snapshots

Ensure VM and database backups are working correctly

Ensure forward and reverse DNS records are in place and working

Ensure vCenter Server, ESXi and Active Directory components have NTP configured

Resolve any outstanding issues within the environment prior to upgrade

Readiness Assessment Tools

Provides a single-pane-of-glass view into all vCenter Server instances

Automatically maps all ESXi servers against the VMware HCL for upgrade planning and compatibility checks

Detects any installed PCI devices and maps them against the VMware HCL for upgrade planning and compatibility checks

Maps every virtual machine’s guest OS against operating system vendor support matrices

Assesses Guest Tools Health versions before and after upgrades

Identifies critical KB articles from VMware, IBM, EMC, Cisco and Dell that match your environment

VMworld Free Trial Promotion

http://info.cloudphysics.com/VMworld_Registration.html

Readiness Assessment Tools

Discovers issues in your vSphere environment by using the current VMware Knowledge Base articles

Collects, retains and navigates through your virtual infrastructure logs

Ensures compliance by running Best Practices fit gap analysis reports and continuous Security Hardening checks

MVMUG Members 6 Months Free Trial

https://www.runecast.biz/mvmug.jsp

Publish a case study or review of Runecast Analyzer for your chance to receive a free 12 Month subscription

Upgrading to vCenter Server 6.0IN-PLACE VS NEW DEPLOYMENT

In-Place vCenter Upgrade

Advantages

Requires the least amount of effort to upgrade

Minimal change to existing configuration

Simplified upgrade and rollback using existing vCenter Server 5.1/5.5 appliance

Data is exported and migrated from old VCSA to new VCSA

Disadvantages

Not suitable for deployments prior to vSphere 5.x

Limitations due to Host OS & Database interoperability (Windows)

Rollback has limitations

You should not snapshot a PSC in a multi-site or HA configuration

Limited upgrade paths

Currently no VCS to VCSA upgrade path

Deprecated* vCenter Server topologies may require redesign to be supported in future releases

* A deprecated topology is one that is currently supported in 6.0 but will not be supported in the future. These topologies are not recommended.

#migrate2vcsa

vCenter Server Upgrade Paths

vCenter Server 5.x vCenter Server 6.0

vCenter Server 5.0 Choice of either an embedded or an external Platform Services Controller instance during the upgrade

vCenter Server 5.1 or 5.5 services deployed on the same machine

vCenter Server 6.0 with embedded Platform Services Controller

vCenter Single Sign-On 5.1 or 5.5 service is deployed on a different machine than vCenter Server

vCenter Server 6.0 with an external Platform Services Controller instance

Custom installation which includes multiple replicating vCenter Single Sign-On servers

Machines running Single Sign-On become external Platform Services Controllers. Machines running vCenter Server become vCenter Server with external Platforms Services Controllers

New vCenter Deployment

Advantages

Provides an opportunity to move to the vCenter Server Appliance

Provides an opportunity to move away from deprecated vCenter Server topologies

Provides more granular upgrade and rollback approach

Minimises risk

Disadvantages

Requires additional effort to migrate existing vCenter configuration

Lack of VMware supported migration tools to new vCenter Server instance

PowerCLI scripting

Manual reconfiguration

Normally requires reinstallation and/or reconfiguration of vCenterServer integrated products

#migrate2vcsa

vCenter Server In-Place UpgradeUPGRADE RECOMMENDATIONS

vCenter Server In-Place Upgrade Recommendations

If possible, upgrade other VMware products to a common 5.x/6.0 interoperability level prior to vCenter Server upgrade

Follow VMware's product update sequencehttp://kb.vmware.com/kb/2109760

Backup vCenter Server machines

Snapshot vCenter Server VMs

Backup Distributed Virtual Switch configurations

Repoint vCenter 5.5 embedded SSO to a newly deployed external SSO prior to 6.0 upgrade

Re-pointing and re-registering VMware vCenter Server 5.1 / 5.5 and components (2033620) http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2033620

Remove old legacy vCenter Server components prior to 6.0 upgrade

Isolate vCenter Server from Linked Mode

Ensure each vCenter Server instance is isolated before upgrade

If the Linked Mode Configuration wizard does not allow you to isolate the vCenter Server instance, refer to the following VMware KB articles;

Isolating vCenter Server from a linked mode configuration fails (2013411)

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2013411

Isolating a vCenter Server instance from the Linked Mode using the Configuration wizard fails with the error: "Isolate instance VMwareVCMSDS" failed (2012957)

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2012957

Check vCenter Server Database Configuration

Verify you have the correct database source name (DSN) client

Microsoft SQL Server Native Client 10 or 11

Verify SQL compatibility mode prior to vCenter Server upgrade

Installing or Upgrading to vCenter Server 6.0 fails with the error: Incompatible MSSQL version with vCenter Server 6.0 (2111541) http://kb.vmware.com/kb2111541

Ensure database user has db_owner or sysadmin permissions to the vCenterServer and MSDB databases

Error code 1603 when upgrading to vCenter Server 6.0 (2119768)http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2119768

Upgrading VMware vCenter Server from 5.x to 6.0 fails with the error: The user associated with the DSN has insufficient privileges (2114754)

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2114754

New vCenter Server DeploymentMIGRATION TOOLS & CONSIDERATIONS

vCenter Server Migration Tools

VMware PowerCLIhttp://www.vmware.com/go/powercli

VMware Fling - InventorySnapshothttp://labs.vmware.com/flings/inventorysnapshot *** UNSUPPORTED ***

VMware Fling – VCS to VCA Converter Fling *** DEPRECATED ***

Performing ESXi Host 6.0 UpgradesBEST PRACTICES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

VMware ESXi Host Upgrades

There is no need to rebuild ESXi 5.x hosts

Rebuilding requires reconfiguration of ESXi hosts (unless using host profiles)

ESXi upgrade process

Save config

Overwrite VIBs

Reboot

Re-apply saved config

Rebuild or Upgrade?

VMware ESXi Host Upgrades

Where possible use VMware Update Manager to perform ESXi upgrades

Use an ISO image or esxcli where VMware Update Manager is not available

Use OEM custom ESXi ISO images for the corresponding hardware vendors

Cisco

HPE

Dell

Fujitsu

Hitachi

NEC

Lenovo

Use ESXi Image Builder to create custom ESXi images if required

Import custom ESXi ISOs to VMware Update Manager to create host upgrade baselines

VMware Tools & Hardware Upgrade

VMware Tools

Upgrade highly recommended but not mandatory

Upgrades can be performed manually, via VMware Update Manager, or at virtual machine power on

Requires reboot of virtual machine after upgrade

VMware Tools is backward compatible with other ESXi versions

Virtual Hardware

Upgrade recommended but not mandatory

Requires virtual machine to be shutdown prior to upgrade

Ensure VMware Tools is upgraded first

Virtual Hardware is not backward compatible with other ESXi versions

Do not upgrade virtual hardware until all upgrade testing is completed

For replicated VMs, ensure the virtual hardware version is compatible with ESXi at your recovery site before upgrading

http://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2016/03/six-methods-for-keeping-vm-tools-up-to-date.html

VMworld US 2016 AnnouncementsAUGUST 28 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

@VMware #VMworld#migrate2vcsa

Who to Follow @ Adam Eckerle @eck79

Emad Younis @Emad_Younis

Kyle Ruddy @kmruddy

William Lam @lamw

Blair Fritz @TheVMBlair

Brian Graf @vBrianGraf

Ryan Johnson @tenthirtyam

What to Follow # #INF9944 - What’s new with vCenter Server

#INF9047 - Managing vSphere 6.0 Deployments and Upgrades

#INF9044 - Journey to the vCenter Server Appliance

#INF9083 - Ask the vCenter Server Experts Panel

#INF8260 - Automated Deployment and Configuration of the vCenter Server Appliance

#INF8225 - The vCenter Server and Platform Services Controller Guide to the Galaxy