Installation guide

Create a 32-Bit DSN on a 64-Bit Operating System
You can install or upgrade to vCenter Server on both 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems.
Even though vCenter Server is supported on 64-bit operating systems, the vCenter Server system must have
a 32-bit DSN. This requirement applies to all supported databases. By default, any DSN created on a 64-bit
system is 64 bit.
Procedure
1 Install the ODBC drivers.
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For Microsoft SQL Server database servers, install the 64-bit database ODBC drivers on your Microsoft
Windows system. When you install the 64-bit drivers, the 32-bit drivers are installed automatically.
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For Oracle database servers, install the 32-bit database ODBC drivers on your Microsoft Windows
system.
NOTE The default install location on 64-bit operating systems is C:\VMware.
2 Run the 32-bit ODBC Administrator application, located at [WindowsDir]\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe.
3 Use the application to create your DSN.
You now have a DSN that is compatible with vCenter Server. When the vCenter Server installer prompts you
for a DSN, select the 32-bit DSN.
Upgrade to vCenter Server on a Different Machine
In this type of upgrade, you upgrade the legacy software on one machine to the updated version on another
machine. Suppose, for example, that you have VirtualCenter 2.x on a 32-bit machine (source machine) and you
want vCenter Server to be on a 64-bit machine (destination machine).
VMware recommends that you back up your VirtualCenter database before you perform this procedure.
Prerequisites
The prerequisites for upgrading to vCenter Server include requirements for the vCenter Server system and
requirements for the database. See “Prerequisites for the vCenter Server Upgrade,” on page 38.
The database for the source machine can be local or remote, but it must be supported with vCenter Server 4.0.
If it is not supported, back it up and upgrade it to a supported database or import the tables into a supported
database. See “Database Scenarios,” on page 41.
If you are upgrading on a 64-bit system, see “Create a 32-Bit DSN on a 64-Bit Operating System,” on page 52.
Procedure
1 On the source machine, copy the SSL certificate folder at %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application
Data\VMware\VMware VirtualCenter.
2 Paste it on the destination machine.
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On Microsoft Windows 2003 Server: %ALLUSERSPROFILE%/Application Data/VMWare/VMware
VirtualCenter. Create the folder if it does not exist.
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On Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Windows 2008 Server: %ALLUSERSPROFILE
%/VMWare/VMware VirtualCenter. Create the folder if it does not exist.
3 On the destination machine, configure a system DSN that points to the database.
The DSN must be 32-bit.
vSphere Upgrade Guide
52 VMware, Inc.