Upgrade vCenter (VCSA) 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c

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Recently, I had to upgrade my existing VMware 6.7 U3 VCSA to the new 7.0 VCSA.  I know a lot of people who are planning for this upgrade by the end of the year so I hope this helps everyone out.

Prerequisites

  • Need temp FQDN & IP with valid DNS registration for deployment process, will be released when upgrade completes.
  • If vCenter Server Appliance uses an external Update Manager instance, you must run the Migration Assistant on the Update Manager machine.
  • Your source and target ESXi hosts must not be in lockdown or maintenance mode, and not part of fully automated DRS clusters.
  • Review your environment’s Certificate Authority (CA) signed SSL certificates.
  • ESXi hosts must be at version 6.5 or later.
  • Check VMware interoperability for all external components: https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/sim/interop_matrix.php

Step 1 – Confirm your current VCSA health and Version – Build number

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 1; the adjacent article text explains that confirm your current VCSA health and Version - Build number.

Step 2. Take a snapshot or a clone of your existing vCenter server
I personally like to take a clone, some prefer a snapshot, others a backup.

Step 3. Deploy new VCSA Appliance

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 2; the adjacent article text explains that deploy new VCSA Appliance.

Mount the ISO

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 3; the step instructs the user to go to vcsa-ui-installer > win32 > installer.

Go to vcsa-ui-installer > win32 > installer

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 4, showing vCenter Server Installer; the step instructs the user to go to vcsa-ui-installer > win32 > installer.

Select Upgrade —- DO NOT SELECT INSTALL!

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 5, showing Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy appliance; the step instructs the user to select Upgrade -- DO NOT SELECT INSTALL.

NEXT

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 6, showing vm Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy appliance; the step instructs the user to select Upgrade -- DO NOT SELECT INSTALL.

Check I accept the terms of the license agreement > NEXT

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 7, showing Stage 1: Deploy applia; the step instructs the user to check I accept the terms of the license agreement > NEXT.

Enter the information for the Source (Original) VCSA Appliance

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 8; the step instructs the user to enter the information for the Source (Original) VCSA Appliance.

Connecting to source server…

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 9, showing vm Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy appliance; the step instructs the user to enter the source (original) Username and password and root password.

Enter the source (original) Username and password and root password
Enter the standalone ESXi host or vCenter server that manages your source (original) appliance

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 10; the step instructs the user to enter the source (original) Username and password and root password.

Validating…

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 11, showing vm Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server; the step instructs the user to enter the source (original) Username and password and root password.

This is where you enter the standalone ESXi or vCenter that will manage the new vCenter appliance
Enter username and password of the ESXi or vCenter

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 12, showing Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server; the step instructs the user to select deployment size.

Select deployment size

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 13, showing Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server; the step instructs the user to select deployment size.

Select the datastore you want the new appliance to be deployed on

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 14, showing Upgrade - St; the step instructs the user to select the datastore you want the new appliance to be deployed.

Finish filling in the network information of the new appliance

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 15, showing vm Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server; the step instructs the user to select the datastore you want the new appliance to be deployed.

Confirm all the information is correct and click finish

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 16, showing Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server; the adjacent article text explains that stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server - this can take a while so be patient.

Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server – this can take a while so be patient

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 17; the adjacent article text explains that confirm all the information is correct and click finish.

Continue

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 18, showing vCenter Server; the adjacent article text explains that / Stage 2 - Upgrade source vCenter Server.

Step 4 / Stage 2 – Upgrade source vCenter Server

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 19; the adjacent article text explains that / Stage 2 - Upgrade source vCenter Server.
Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 20, showing Pre-upgrade checks are in progress; the adjacent article text explains that / Stage 2 - Upgrade source vCenter Server.
Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 21, showing Pre-upgrade check result; the adjacent article text explains that / Stage 2 - Upgrade source vCenter Server.
Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 22, showing Upgrade - Stage 2: vCenter Server; the adjacent article text explains that / Stage 2 - Upgrade source vCenter Server.

I select the configuration and historical data.

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 23, showing Upgrade - Stage 2: vCenter Server; the adjacent article text explains that / Stage 2 - Upgrade source vCenter Server.

Join the VMware’s Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP)

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 24, showing Upgrade - Stage 2: vCenter Server; the adjacent article text explains that confirm the information is correct and click FINISH.

Confirm the information is correct and click FINISH

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 25, showing The source vCenter will be shut down once the network; the adjacent article text explains that shutdown warning.

Shutdown Warning
The source vCenter will be shut down once the network configuration is enabled on destination vCenter Server.
Click OK to continue, or Cancel to stop the upgrade

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 26, showing Upgrade is being initiated; the adjacent article text explains that upgrade is being initiated ….

Upgrade is being initiated …

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 27, showing Upgrade - Stage 2: Data transfer and vCenter Server setup is in progress; the adjacent article text explains that shutdown warning.
Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 28, showing Upgrade - Stage 2: Data transfer and vCenter Server setup is in progress; the adjacent article text explains that shutdown warning.
Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 29, showing Upgrade - Stage 2: Data transfer and vCenter Server setup is in progress; the adjacent article text explains that shutdown warning.
Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 30, showing Deploy, upd; the adjacent article text explains that upgrade is being initiated ….
Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 31, showing Upgrade - Stage 2: Complete; the step instructs the user to click on the URL link to go to the login page.

Click on the URL link to go to the login page

Screenshot from the Upgrade vCenter 6.7 U3 to 7.0.0c walkthrough at step 32; the step instructs the user to click on the URL link to go to the login page.

Confirm your Version: 7.0.0.10600 Build number 16620007

Summary:
It is a very lengthy process but a whole lot of sit and wait.  However, the features that come in 7.0 are too good to wait on.  I hope everyone found this article useful.

Choose the right vCenter 7 path: use the clean VCSA 7 deployment guide. After upgrading, continue with datacenter, cluster, and host configuration.

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