6.5.1

Table Of Contents
Introduction to vSphere
Upgrade 1
vSphere 6.5 provides many options for upgrading your vSphere deployment. For a successful vSphere
upgrade, you must understand the upgrade options, the configuration details that impact the upgrade
process, and the sequence of tasks.
The two core components of vSphere are VMware ESXi™ and VMware vCenter Server™. ESXi is the
virtualization platform on which you can create and run virtual machines and virtual appliances.
vCenter Server is a service that acts as a central administrator for ESXi hosts connected in a network.
You use the vCenter Server system to pool and manage the resources of multiple hosts.
vCenter Server Appliance is a preconfigured Linux OS--based virtual machine optimized for running the
vCenter Server system and the vCenter Server components.
Starting with vSphere 6.0, important required services for running vCenter Server and the vCenter Server
components are included in the Platform Services Controller.
Based on your existing vCenter Server configuration details, you can upgrade to one of the following
deployment types:
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vCenter Server with an embedded Platform Services Controller.
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vCenter Server with an external Platform Services Controller.
Important You cannot change your vCenter Server deployment type during upgrade.
This section includes the following topics:
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Overview of the vSphere Upgrade Process
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vSphere 6.5 Component Behavior Changes that Affect Upgrade
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Deployment Topologies with External Platform Services Controller Instances and High Availability
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Moving from a Deprecated to a Supported vCenter Server Deployment Topology Before Upgrade or
Migration
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Example Upgrade Paths for vCenter Server version 5.5 to version 6.5
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Example Upgrade Paths from vCenter Server version 6.0.x to version 6.5
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Example Migration Paths from vCenter Server for Windows to vCenter Server Appliance 6.5
VMware, Inc.
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