Installation guide

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If you are upgrading from VirtualCenter 2.5 with the bundled SQL Server 2005 Express, you do not need
to perform a clean installation of vCenter Server.
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If you have a Microsoft SQL database and you are upgrading from VirtualCenter 2.0.x, make sure that
bulk logging is enabled. You can disable it after the upgrade is complete.
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If you have a Microsoft SQL database, your system DSN must be using the SQL Native Client driver.
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Make sure that the database user has the following permissions:
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Oracle
Either assign the DBA role or grant the following permissions to the
user:
grant connect to <user>
grant resource to <user>
grant create view to <user>
grant create any sequence to <user> # For upgrade from VC 2.0.x
grant create any table to <user> # For upgrade from VC 2.0.x
grant execute on dbms_lock to <user> # For upgrade from VC
2.0.x/2.5
grant unlimited tablespace to <user> # To ensure sufficient
space
After the upgrade is complete, you can optionally remove the following
permissions from the user profile: create any sequence and create any
table.
By default, the RESOURCE role has the CREATE PROCEDURE,
CREATE TABLE, and CREATE SEQUENCE privileges assigned. If the
RESOURCE role does not have these privileges, grant them to the
vCenter Server database user.
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Microsoft SQL Server
Make sure that the database login has the db_owner fixed database role
on the vCenter Server database and on the MSDB database. The
db_owner role on the MSDB database is required for installation and
upgrade only. You can revoke this role after the installation or upgrade
process is complete.
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Also review “Database Scenarios,” on page 41.
vCenter Server Database Patch and Configuration Requirements
After you choose a database type, make sure you understand the configuration and patch requirements for
the database.
NOTE vCenter Update Manager also requires a database. VMware recommends that you use separate
databases for vCenter Server and vCenter Update Manager.
If your VirtualCenter 2.x database is not supported for upgrade to vCenter Server 4.0, first upgrade your
database (or import your database into a database that is supported for upgrade to vCenter Server) and then
upgrade to vCenter Server.
Table 5-2 lists the configuration and patch requirements for the databases that are supported for upgrade to
vCenter Server. If your database is not listed in this table, see “Database Scenarios,” on page 41.
For a complete list of database versions supported with vCenter Server, see the Compatibility Matrixes on the
VMware vSphere documentation Web site.
vSphere Upgrade Guide
40 VMware, Inc.