6.0.2

5 Upgrade vCenter Server.
You can connect vCenter Server instances with external Platform Services Controller instances in an
Enhanced Linked Mode conguration.
I Although you can select to join a vCenter Single Sign-On domain, you should consider
vCenter Server with an embedded Platform Services Controller as a standalone installation and do not
use it for replication of infrastructure data.
Concurrent upgrades are not supported and upgrade order maers. If you have multiple
vCenter Server instances or services that are not installed on the same physical server or virtual
machine (VM) as the vCenter Server instance, see “Migration of Distributed vCenter Server for
Windows Services During Upgrade to vCenter Server 6.0,” on page 75 and “Mixed-Version
Transitional Environments During vCenter Server Upgrades,” on page 20
Upgrade vCenter Server on a Windows VM or physical server or upgrade the
vCenter Server Appliance. For the vCenter Server for Windows upgrade workow, see “About the
vCenter Server 6.0 for Windows Upgrade Process,” on page 73. For the vCenter Server Appliance
workow, see “About the vCenter Server Appliance Upgrade Process,” on page 92.
a Verify that your system meets the hardware and software requirements for upgrading
vCenter Server. See “vCenter Server for Windows Requirements,” on page 34 or “vCenter Server
Appliance Requirements,” on page 37.
b Prepare your environment for the upgrade. See Chapter 3, “Before Upgrading vCenter Server,” on
page 53
c Create a worksheet with the information that you need for the upgrade. See “Required Information
for Upgrading vCenter Server for Windows,” on page 69 or “Required Information for Upgrading
the vCenter Server Appliance,” on page 69.
d Upgrade vCenter Server. See Chapter 4, “Upgrading and Updating vCenter Server for Windows,”
on page 73 or Chapter 5, “Upgrading and Patching the vCenter Server Appliance and Platform
Services Controller Appliance,” on page 91.
You can upgrade vCenter Server 5.0 to an embedded or external Platform Services Controller
deployment. For vCenter Server 5.1 or 5.5 upgrades, your deployment outcome after upgrade
depends upon your initial deployment. For more information on deployment details and how they
aect upgrades, see “About the vCenter Server 6.0 for Windows Upgrade Process,” on page 73,
“Upgrading the vCenter Server Appliance,” on page 91, “Patching the vCenter Server Appliance
and Platform Services Controller Appliance,” on page 102, and “vCenter Server Example Upgrade
Paths,” on page 28.
6 After upgrading vCenter Server, complete the post-upgrade tasks. Depending on your conguration
details before upgrade, you might need to complete some reconguration tasks. See Chapter 6, “After
Upgrading vCenter Server,” on page 113.
7 If you are using vSphere Update Manager, upgrade it. See Chapter 7, “Upgrading Update Manager,” on
page 135.
8 Upgrade your ESXi hosts.
a Review the best practices for upgrading and verify that your system meets the upgrade
requirements. See “Best Practices for ESXi Upgrades,” on page 139 and “ESXi Requirements,” on
page 44.
b Determine the ESXi upgrade option to use. See “Upgrade Options for ESXi 6.0,” on page 140.
c Determine where you want to locate and boot the ESXi installer. See “Media Options for Booting
the ESXi Installer,” on page 142. If you are PXE-booting the installer, verify that your network PXE
infrastructure is properly set up. See “PXE Booting the ESXi Installer,” on page 146.
Chapter 1 Introduction to vSphere Upgrade
VMware, Inc. 19