6.7

You can migrate with an embedded or external vCenter database. In either case, the database is
converted to an embedded PostgreSQL database on the new appliance. For more about the database
migration, see Preparing vCenter Server Databases for Migration.
You can migrate a vCenter Server installation to an appliance using either the GUI method or CLI method.
n
When migrating vCenter Server with an embedded Platform Services Controller (version 6.0 or 6.5),
the migration is a single workflow.
n
When migrating vCenter Server with an external Platform Services Controller (version 6.0 or 6.5),
migration order matters. You migrate Platform Services Controller instances before migrating
vCenter Server instances. For details, see Chapter 4 Migrating vCenter Server for Windows to
vCenter Server Appliance.
Preparation includes using VMware Migration Assistant to gather the required information on the source
vCenter Server instance or Platform Services Controller instance. For details, see Download and Run
VMware Migration Assistant on the Source Windows Machine.
Upgrading or Migrating to vSphere License Service
The License Service is in the Platform Services Controller. The License Service provides common license
inventory and management capabilities to the vCenter Server systems that are registered to a
Platform Services Controller or multiple Platform Services Controllers that are joined in one
vCenter Single Sign-On domain.
During the upgrade of the vCenter Server systems that are connected to a Platform Services Controller,
their licensing data is transferred to the License Service. The licensing data includes the available
licenses and license assignments for hosts, vCenter Server systems, vSAN clusters, and other products
that you use with vSphere.
After the upgrade or migration of the vCenter Server systems completes, the License Services stores the
available licenses and manages the license assignments for the entire vSphere environment. If your
vSphere environment consists of multiple Platform Services Controllers joined in one vCenter Single
Sign-On domain, the License Service in every Platform Services Controller contains a replica of the
licensing data for the entire environment.
For more information about the License Service and managing licenses in vSphere, see vCenter Server
and Host Management.
Dierences Between vSphere Upgrades, Patches, Updates, and
Migrations
vSphere products distinguish between upgrades, which make major changes to the software, patches
and updates, which make smaller changes to the software, and migrations, which make changes to the
software platform.
VMware product versions are numbered with two digits, for example, vSphere 6.7. A release that
changes either digit, for example, from 6.0 to 6.5, or from 6.5 to 6.7, involves major changes in the
software, and requires an upgrade from the previous version. A release that makes a smaller change,
requiring only a patch or update, is indicated by an update number, for example, vSphere 6.0 Update 1.
vCenter Server Upgrade
VMware, Inc. 19