Last week I wrote a topic about how to upgrade an old VMware vCenter Server Appliance to vCSA 6.5u1. In this topic, I describe step-by-step how to Migrate Windows vCenter Server to vCSA 6.5u1. To write this topic, I have migrated a Windows vCenter Server 6.0 to a vCSA 6.5u1.

To follow this topic, you need a Windows vCenter Server 5.5 or 6.0 to migrate. You need also the latest VMware vCenter Server Appliance (at the time of writing this line, it is vCSA 6.5 update 1). You need also enough storage and compute resource.

Step 1: Run VMware migration assistant

Before beginning the migration, you must run the VMware Migration Assitant on the source vCenter server (I mean the Windows vCenter Server). You can find this tool in the vCSA ISO that you have previously downloaded in <Drive Letter>:\migration-assistant\VMware-Migration-Assistant.exe. This tool starts a web service on the Windows vCenter Server to communicate with the vCSA install program.

Step 2: Deploy the vCSA

Once you have executed the VMware Migration Assistant on the source, you can mount the vCSA ISO on your favorite Windows computer or server (it must have access to your vSphere infrastructure) and run <DriveLetter>:\vcsa-ui-installer\win32\installer.exe. You can also run the installer from Mac or Linux but I prefer Windows :). In the first window, just click on Migrate.

The next screen introduces the migration process. Just click on Next.

On the next screen, accept the license agreement and click on Next.

Then specify the source Windows server (by using an IP or FQDN). The VMware migration assistant must run otherwise you’ll have an error. Specify also the administrator’s credentials to connect to source vCenter.

Next, you have to specify the information about the target. Because I migrate the only one vCenter I have, I set credentials and FQDN of an ESXi node (be sure to disable DRS while migration).

Then provide the name of the new vCenter Appliance VM and its root password. Be sure to not indicate the same VM name than the source vCenter. You can rename the source VM name by adding suffix _old for example.

In the next window, choose a deployment and storage size. These settings depend on the vSphere infrastructure you have. The table indicates which deployment you should choose depending on the number of hosts and VMs to manage from the vCenter.

Next choose the datastore where you want to store the vCenter VM files. You can also deploy the vCSA VM in thin provisioning mode.

Then specify temporary network information. These settings will be used when the source Windows vCenter Server and target vCSA will be powered up at the same time.

To finish this step, please review the setting that you have specified and click on Finish to run the deployment.

A progress bar shows you the deployment status. It can take a while to deploy the target vCSA.

Once it is finished, you can click on continue to start the stage 2. If you close this window or if there is a network issue, you can connect later to the appliance to run the step 2 at https://<ip or vCSA FQDN>:5480.

Step 3: Configuration and data migration

The first screen of the stage 2 introduces what happen in this step. Just click on Next. Then the wizard runs a pre-migration check.

Next the pre-migration check shows warnings and issues. It can indicate which components cannot be migrated (such as plugin or Update Manager baseline).

If the source Windows vCenter Server is joined to Active Directory, the wizard asks you credentials to join the vCSA to the same Active Directory domain.

Next you can select the data to migrate: just the configuration or configuration, events, tasks and performance metrics.

In the next window, you can choose to join the CEIP or not.

To finish, review your settings. If all is good, you can check the box saying that you have backed up the source vCenter Server and click on Finish.

A warning indicated you that the source vCenter Server will be powered off once the network configuration is set on the destination vCenter Server. If you are sure, just click on OK.

A progress bar indicates you the migration status. It can take a while depending on the data to migrate and the speed of your network and vSphere infrastructure. Once the data is migrated, you should be able to connect to the vCenter again and it should be converted into a vCSA :).