Installation guide

Contents
Updated Information 7
About This Book 9
1
About the Upgrade Process 11
2
System Requirements 13
ESXi Hardware Requirements 13
vCenter Server and the vSphere Client Hardware Requirements 15
vCenter Server Software Requirements 17
vSphere Client Software Requirements 17
Support for 64-Bit Guest Operating Systems 17
Requirements for Creating Virtual Machines 17
Required Ports 18
DNS Requirements for vSphere 19
Supported Remote Management Firmware Versions 19
3
Preparing for the Upgrade to vCenter Server 21
About the vCenter Server 4.1 Upgrade 21
vCenter Server Upgrade Summary 21
Prerequisites for the vCenter Server Upgrade 23
vCenter Server Database Patch and Configuration Requirements 25
Database Scenarios 26
Configure vCenter Server to Communicate with the Local Database After Shortening the Computer
Name to 15 Characters or Fewer 27
Back Up VirtualCenter 2.5 or Higher 28
Run the vCenter Agent Preupgrade Check Tool 28
Downtime During the vCenter Server Upgrade 30
4
Upgrading to vCenter Server 4.1 31
Upgrade to vCenter Server 4.1 31
5
Upgrade to vCenter Server on a Different Machine and Upgrade the Existing
Database 33
Back Up and Move the vCenter Server Database 34
Back Up VirtualCenter or vCenter Server Configuration with the Data Migration Tool 37
Create a 64-Bit DSN 38
Restore the vCenter Server Configuration and Install vCenter Server on the Destination Machine 39
Update the vCenter Server Name for Plug-Ins 43
Migrate a License Server Installed on the Same Machine as vCenter Server 43
VMware, Inc.
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