VMware software upgrade 5.1 – 5.5 U2

Compiled by Tony Goodwin, Tyler Harris, Joel Patane

Edited by Tony Goodwin

18/12/2014

Contents

Abstract ............................................................................................................................................................. 1

Release notes: VMware ESXi 5.5 ........................................................................................................................ 1

Best practices for upgrading ............................................................................................................................... 1

Improvements / additions in ESXi 5.5 ................................................................................................................. 2

vSphere Data Protection .................................................................................................................................... 4

Product Support Notices / Known issues ............................................................................................................ 5

Update methods ................................................................................................................................................ 7

Software Download links ................................................................................................................................... 7

Upgrade / Update Steps ..................................................................................................................................... 8

VMware upgrade 5.1 – 5.5 U2

1

Abstract

This document is a guide to upgrading VMware virtual server software from version 5.1 to version 5.5.

Included content: New and upgraded features of v5.5, public support notices and known issues, vSphere

Data Protection, software upgrade methods and steps, software download links, and links to relevant

official VMware documentation.

VMware refers to a move from 5.1 to 5.5 as an “upgrade”. “Upgrade” and “Update” are synonymous

terms within the use of this document.

“ESXi” and “vSphere” both refer to VMware’s hypervisor software (installed on host machines).

Release notes: VMware ESXi 5.5

5.5.2b: https://www.vmware.com/support/vsphere5/doc/vsphere-vcenter-server-55u2b-release-

notes.html

5.5.2: https://www.vmware.com/support/vsphere5/doc/vsphere-esxi-55u2-release-notes.html

5.5.1: https://www.vmware.com/support/vsphere5/doc/vsphere-esxi-55u1-release-notes.html

5.5.0: https://www.vmware.com/support/vsphere5/doc/vsphere-esx-vcenter-server-55-release-

notes.html

Best practices for upgrading

vCenter Server 5.5

Includes: How vCenter 5.5 affects single sign on, simple and custom install, hardware requirements,

software requirements, identity sources with SSO, prerequisites

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId

=2053132

vSphere ESXi Hypervisor 5.5

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId

=2052329

VMware upgrade 5.1 – 5.5 U2

2

Improvements / additions in ESXi 5.5

Full document: http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/vsphere/VMW-WP-vSPHR-5.5-PLTFRM.pdf

Added features

VMware vSphere 5.5 introduces many new features and enhancements that further extend the core

capabilities of the vSphere platform. The core vSphere ESXi Hypervisor enhancements in vSphere 5.5

include the following:

• Hot-pluggable SSD PCIe devices

• Support for Reliable Memory Technology

• Enhancements to CPU C-states

Along with the core vSphere ESXi Hypervisor improvements, vSphere 5.5 provides the following

virtual machine–related enhancements:

• Virtual machine compatibility with VMware ESXi 5.5

• Expanded virtual graphics support to include added support for an additional hardware-accelerated

graphics vendor • Graphic acceleration support for Linux guest operating systems

In addition, the following vCenter Server enhancements include:

• vCenter Single Sign-On Server security enhancements

• vSphere Web Client platform support and UI improvements

• vCenter Server Appliance configuration maximum increases

• Simplified vSphere App HA application monitoring

• vSphere DRS virtual machine–virtual machine affinity rule enhancements

• vSphere Big Data Extensions, a new feature that deploys and manages Hadoop clusters on vSphere

from within vCenter

vSphere 5.5 also includes the following storage-related enhancements:

• Support for 62TB VMDK

• MSCS updates

• vSphere 5.1 enhancements

• 16GB E2E support

• PDL AutoRemove

• vSphere Replication interoperability and multi-point-in-time snapshot retention

vSphere 5.5 also introduces the following networking-related enhancements:

• Improved LACP capabilities

• Traffic filtering

• Quality of Service tagging

VMware upgrade 5.1 – 5.5 U2

3

Single Sign-On

vCenter Single Sign-On server 5.5, the authentication services of VMware vCloud Suite, has been

greatly enhanced to provide a richer experience that enables users to log in to vCloud Suite products in

a true one-touch, single sign-on manner. This feature provided challenges for users in a previous

release. As a result of extensive feedback, the following vCenter Single Sign-On enhancements have

been made:

• Simplified deployment – A single installation model for customers of all sizes is now offered.

• Enhanced Microsoft Active Directory integration – The addition of native Active Directory support

enables cross-domain authentication with one- and two-way trusts common in multi-domain

environments.

• Architecture – Built from the ground up, this architecture removes the requirement of a database and

now delivers a multi-master authentication solution with built-in replication and support for multiple

tenants.

vSphere Web Client

The platform-agnostic vSphere Web Client, which replaces the traditional vSphere Client™, continues

to exclusively feature all-new vSphere 5.5 technologies and to lead the way in VMware virtualization

and cloud management technologies.

Increased platform support – With vSphere 5.5, full client support for Mac OS X is now available in the

vSphere Web Client. This includes native remote console for a virtual machine. Administrators and end

users can now access and manage their vSphere environment using the desktop platform they are most

comfortable with. Fully supported browsers include both Firefox and Chrome.

Improved usability experience – The vSphere Web Client includes the following key new features that

improve overall usability and provide the administrator with a more native application feel:

• Drag and drop – Administrators can now drag and drop objects from the center panel onto the vSphere

inventory, enabling them to quickly perform bulk actions. Default actions begin when the “drop”

occurs, helping accelerate workflow actions. This enables administrators to perform “bulk” operations

with ease. For example, to move multiple virtual machines, grab and drag them to the new host to start

the migration workflow.

• Filters – Administrators can now select properties on a list of displayed objects and selected filters to

meet specific search criteria. Displayed objects are dynamically updated to reflect the specific filters

selected. Using filters, administrators can quickly narrow down to the most significant objects. For

example, two checkbox filters can enable an administrator to see all virtual machines on a host that are

powered on and running Windows Server 2008.

• Recent items – Administrators spend most of their day working on a handful of objects. The new

recent-items navigation aid enables them to navigate with ease, typically by using one click between

their most commonly used objects.

vCLI (vSphere Command-line interface)

Documentation

Release Notes / New in vCLI 5.5

VMware upgrade 5.1 – 5.5 U2

4

vSphere Data Protection

VMware vSphere Data Protection™ is a backup and recovery solution for VMware virtual machines. It

is fully integrated with vCenter Server and vSphere Web Client, providing easy, disk-based backup of

virtual machines. vSphere Data Protection 5.5 is included with VMware vSphere 5.5 Essentials Plus Kit

and higher.

VDP Technical White Paper

http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/techpaper/Introduction-to-Data-Protection.pdf

VDP Enhancements

• Direct-to-host emergency restore: vSphere Data Protection can be used to restore a virtual machine

directly to a vSphere host without the need for vCenter Server and vSphere Web Client. This is

especially helpful when using vSphere Data Protection to protect vCenter Server.

• Backup and restore of individual virtual machine hard disks (.vmdk files): Individual .vmdk files can

be selected for backup and restore operations.

• Replication to EMC Avamar: vSphere Data Protection replicates backup data to EMC Avamar to

provide offsite backup data storage for disaster recovery.

• Flexible storage placement: When deploying vSphere Data Protection, separate datastores can be

selected for the OS partition and backup data partition of the virtual appliance.

• Mounting of existing backup data storage to new appliance: An existing vSphere Data Protection

backup data partition can be mounted to a new vSphere Data Protection virtual appliance during

deployment.

• Scheduling granularity: Backup and replication jobs can be scheduled at specific times; for example,

Backup Job 1 at 8:45 p.m., Backup Job 2 at 11:30 p.m., and Replication Job 1 at 2:15 a.m.

VMware upgrade 5.1 – 5.5 U2

5

Product Support Notices / Known issues

VMware vCenter Server Appliance

In vSphere 5.5, the VMware vCenter Server Appliance meets high-governance compliance standards

through the enforcement of the DISA Security Technical Information Guidelines (STIG). Before you

deploy VMware vCenter Server Appliance, see the VMware Hardened Virtual Appliance Operations

Guide for information about the new security deployment standards and to ensure successful operations.

VMware Tools

Beginning with vSphere 5.5, all information about how to install and configure VMware Tools in

vSphere is merged with the other vSphere documentation. For information about using VMware Tools

in vSphere, see the vSphere documentation. Installing and Configuring VMware Tools is not relevant to

vSphere 5.5 and later.

Windows support

Starting with vSphere 5.5 Update 2, Windows XP and Windows Vista are not supported as vSphere

Client Operating System. You can find the complete list of operating system supported by vSphere Web

Client in the VMware Compatibility Guide.

Accessing vSphere client with Windows AD credentials

We did not have permission to access the vSphere client using the windows credentials.

Re-configuring the active directory fixes this.

http://www.vmwareandme.com/2013/10/step-by-step-guide-to-configure-vmware.html

VMware ESXi 5.5 Free

VMWare is moving is to get rid of the traditional vSphere Client that we know, and use only the

platform-agnostic vSphere Web Client. The problem here is that the vSphere Web Client requires the

use of a vCenter Server Appliance, which is a licensed, paid for product. It does, like ESXi, come with

a 60 day evaluation period (and there is also the 365 day corporate trails), but after this, it needs a

license to continue working, and when it goes, so does your control of the vSphere ESXi hypervisor.

http://thehomeserverblog.com/home-servers/esxi-5-5-free-hypervisor-will-home-labs-survive/

Note

Remember to make a backup/snapshot of the server in-case the installation media fails during the

upgrade - which can potentially corrupt data and/or the system.

VMware upgrade 5.1 – 5.5 U2

6

ESXi Dell upgrade issue

Cannot upgrade ESXi 5.0.x host installed on Dell using custom image to 5.5.

(This link includes the resolution)

Workaround: Remove the VIBs, run the upgrade again. (Back-up ESXi configuration first, see below)

Backing-up and restoring ESXi configuration

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId

=2042141

vCLI required to back-up ESXi configuration.

VMware upgrade 5.1 – 5.5 U2

7

Update methods

See next page for upgrade steps

VMware vCenter Server Update Manager

http://www.virtualizationadmin.com/articles-tutorials/vmware-esx-and-vsphere-

articles/general/upgrade-vmware-vsphere-55.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2ZwbWxjRb4#t=912

VMware vSphere ESXi hypervisor Manual Install from ISO

http://www.vmwarearena.com/2013/09/vsphere-55-upgrade-esxi-51-to-esxi-55.html

Software Download links

VMware vSphere 5.5 with Operations Management

https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/info/slug/datacenter_cloud_infrastructure/vmware_vsphere_with_

operations_management/5_5

VMware vSphere Data Protection 5.8

https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/details?downloadGroup=VDP58_0&productId=352&rPId=7031

VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi)5.5

https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/evalcenter?p=free-esxi5&lp=default

vSphere vCLI (Command-Line Interface) 5.5 U2

https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/details?downloadGroup=VSP510-VCLI-

510&productId=285&download=true&fileId=3f76c6251c2b78742327ae6abe77f997&secureParam=2a

1e4954adb9d6a03c391759eb05c0a1&uuId=93c75e03-9f9a-4063-81a9-

5f5b1977395d&downloadType=

Product Patches

https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/patch

Drivers

HP:http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/swd/public/detail?swItemId=MTX_d41a5af969224da7be68eec89

6#tab1

Dell: http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=YGH6K

VMware upgrade 5.1 – 5.5 U2

8

Upgrade / Update Steps

These apply to an update from version 5.1 to 5.5

VMware vCenter Server

1. Perform backup/snapshot of current vCenter Server.

2. Create Baseline for the server and patches.

3. Refer to this page for step-by-step instructions on installing VMware vCenter Server with

custom mode (each software component).

This will go through Single-Sign-On, Web Client, Inventory Service, and vCenter Server in the

correct order, configuring permissions etc.

4. Use provided username and password combination for access to all vCenter objects.

VMware ESXi from ISO image

1. Perform backup of current vSphere environment.

2. Refer to this page for instructions on installing VMware ESXi 5.5.0.

a. Test server

b. Migrate/return virtual servers to the upgraded ESXi server

c. Test server

VMware ESXi using vSphere Client

1. Before remediating/rebooting, migrate Virtual Servers to another host.

2. Create the baselines (This was automated for us after upgrading to 5.5).

3. Run scan, then attach upgrade image after yielding success.

4. Remediate the Upgrade image (This will take approximately 30-60 minutes).

5. Scan for patches and upgrades.

6. Attach patches.

7. Remediate the patches.

8. Perform final scan to make sure nothing has been missed.