How To Upgrade of VMware vCenter 6.5 U2 to vCenter 6.7 U3 – VirtuallyThatGuy

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I recently had the pleasure of upgrading one of my older environments running VMware vCenter 6.5 U2 to vCenter 6.7 U3 and thought​​ I​​ would share my experience. 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 6.0 or later.

  • Check VMware interoperability for all external components: https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/sim/interop_matrix.php

Food for thought:

  • 6.7 disables the TLS 1.0 and 1.1 protocols for improved security.

**Warning**
If you have VxRail — Due vCenter API changes in 6.7 you must be at VxRail 4.0.520 / VxRail 4.5.215 or later prior to upgrading your vCenter to 6.7 U1 or later. If you are below these minimums then upgrade your VxRail first followed by your vCenter.

Step 1. 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 2. Deploy new VCSA Appliance

Machine generated alternative text:
vCenter Server Appliance 6.7 Installer 
Install 
Install a new vCenter Server Appliance or Platform 
Services Controller 
Upgrade 
upgrade an existing vCenter Sewer Appliance or 
Platform Services Controller Appliance 
Migrate 
Migrate from an existing vCenter Server or Platform 
Sewices Controller or Single Sign-On server for 
Windows to Appliance 
g English v 
Restore 
Restore from a previously created vCenter Server 
Appliance or Platform Sewices Controller Appliance 
backup

Select Upgrade —- DO NOT SELECT INSTALL!

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Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy appliance 
Stage 2 
upgrade surce appliar-ze 
Introduction 
This installer allows you to upgrade vCenter Server Appliance (6.0 or 6_5), or Platform Services Controller 6_0 or 6.5 to version 6.7. 
Stage 1 
Deploy appliance 
1 Introduction 
2 End user license agreement 
3 Connect to source appliance 
4 Appliance deployment target 
5 Set up target appliance VM 
6 Select deployment size 
7 Select datastore 
8 Configure network settings 
9 Ready to complete stage 1 
upgrading the appliance is a two stage process. The first stage involves deploying a new appliance to the target vCenter server or ESXi host. The second stage completes the upgrade process by copying data from the source 
appliance to the deployed appliance. Make sure you have backed up all data on the source appliance before starting with the upgrade process_ Click Next, to proceed with stage 1. 
CANCEL 
NEXT

Next

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Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy appliance 
End user license agreement 
Read and accept the following license agreement. 
VMWARE END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT 
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TERMS OF THIS END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT SHALL GOVERN YOUR USE OF THE SOFTWARE, REGARDLESS OF ANY TERMS THAT MAY APPEAR DURING THE INSTALLATION OF THE 
SOFTWARE. 
IMPORTANT-READ CAREFULLY: BY DOWNLOADING, INSTALLING, OR USING THE SOFTWARE, YOU (THE INDIVIDUAL OR LEGAL ENTITY) AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT 
("EULA"). IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS EULA, YOU MUST NOT DOWNLOAD, INSTALL, OR USE THE SOFTWARE, AND YOU MUST DELETE OR RETURN THE UNUSED SOFTWARE TO THE VENDOR FROM 
WHICH YOU ACQUIRED IT WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS AND REQUEST A REFUND OF THE LICENSE FEE, IF ANY, THAT YOU PAID FOR THE SOFTWARE 
EVALUATION LICENSE. If You are licensing the Software for evaluation purposes, Your use of the Software is only permitted in a non-production environment and for the period limited by the License Key. Notwithstanding any 
other provision in this EULA, an Evaluation License of the Software is provided "AS-IS" without indemnification, support or warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. 
1. DEFINITIONS. 
1.1 "Affiliate" means, with respect to a party at a given time, an entity that then is directly or indirectly controlled by, is under common control with, or controls that party, and here "control" means an ownership, voting or similar 
1 Introduction 
2 End user license agreement 
3 Connect to source appliance 
4 Appliance deployment target 
5 Set up target appliance VM 
6 Select deployment size 
7 Select datastore 
8 Configure network settings 
9 Ready to complete stage 1 
@ I accept the terms of the license agreement. 
CANCEL 
BACK 
NEXT

Accept the License Agreement and then next

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Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy appliance 
Connect to source appliance 
Provide the details for the source appliance that you want to upgrade: vCenter Server or Platform Services Controller. 
Source appliance 
Appliance FODN or P address 
Appliance HTTPS port 
CONNECT TO SOURCE 
1 Introduction 
2 End user license agreement 
3 Connect to source appliance 
4 Appliance deployment target 
5 Setup target appliance VM 
6 Select deployment size 
7 Select datastore 
8 Configure network settings 
9 Ready to complete stage 1

Enter the information for the Source (Original) VCSA Appliance

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Connecting to source server... Machine generated alternative text:
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
Introduction 
End user license agreement 
Connect to source appliance 
Appliance deployment target 
Set up target appliance VM 
Select deployment size 
Select datastore 
Configure network settings 
Ready to complete stage 1 
Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy appliance 
CANCEL 
BACK 
NEXT 
Connect to source appliance 
Provide the details for the source appliance that you want to upgrade: vCenter Server or Platform Services Controller. 
Source appliance 
Appliance FODN or P address 
Appliance HTTPS port 
SSO User name 
SSO Password 
Appliance (OS) root password 
ESXi host or vCenter Server that manages the source appliance 
ESXi host or vCenter Sewer name 
H-r-rps port 
user name 
Password 
dalprdesxvic02freemancocom 
CONNECT TO SOURCE 
administrator. 
ar Address 
root or LlserName4DomainNarne

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

Machine generated alternative text:
Certificate Warning 
If an untrusted SSL certificate is installed on dalprdesxvic02.freemanco.com or 
dalprdesxvicol.freemanco_com, secure communication cannot be guaranteed. 
Depending on your security policy, this issue might not represent a security 
concern. 
The SHAI thumbprints of the certificates are: 
and 
To accept and continue, click Yes 
YES

Yes

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Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server Appliance with an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
CANCEL 
BACK 
NEXT 
Appliance deployment target 
Specify the appliance deployment target settings. The target is the ESXi host or vCenter Server instance on which the appliance will be deployed. 
1 Introduction 
2 End user license agreement 
3 Connect to source appliance 
4 Appliance deployment target 
5 Set up target appliance VM 
6 Select deployment size 
7 Select datastore 
8 Configure network settings 
9 Ready to complete stage 1 
SXi host or vCenter Server name 
H-rrps port 
user name 
Password 
or IP Address 
root or LlserName4DomainName

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

Machine generated alternative text:
Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server Appliance with an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
Select folder 
1 Introduction 
Select a datacenter or VM folder to create the appliance VM in 
2 End user license agreement 
v dalprdesxvic01.freemanco.com 
3 Connect to source appliance 
Dallas 
4 Appliance deployment target 
5 Select folder 
6 Select compute resource 
7 Set up target appliance VM 
8 Select deployment size 
9 Select datastore 
10 Configure network settings 
11 Ready to complete stage 1 
CANCEL 
BACK 
NEXT

Select the folder to deploy the new appliance in – I always put it in the folder of the original

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Loading... This may take a few 
minutes Machine generated alternative text:
Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server Appliance with an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
BACK 
NEXT 
Select compute resource 
Select the compute resource to deploy the appliance 
Dallas 
101 CITRIX 
101 Non PCI_App 
101 PCI MGMT 
101 Non-pa DMZ stack 
101 PCI DMZ 
101 PROD 
PCI App 
Non-PCI App stack 
CANCEL 
1 Introduction 
2 End user license agreement 
3 Connect to source appliance 
4 Appliance deployment target 
5 Select folder 
6 Select compute resource 
7 Set up target appliance VM 
8 Select deployment size 
9 Select datastore 
10 Configure network settings 
11 Ready to complete stage 1

Select the compute resource you want to place the new appliance – I always put it in the cluster of the original

Machine generated alternative text:
Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server Appliance with an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
Set up target appliance VM 
Specify the VM settings for the appliance to be deployed. 
VM name 
Set root password 
Confirm root password 
dalprdesxvic01a.freemanco.com 
1 Introduction 
2 End user license agreement 
3 Connect to source appliance 
4 Appliance deployment target 
5 Select folder 
6 Select compute resource 
7 Set up target appliance VM 
8 Select deployment size 
9 Select datastore 
10 Configure network settings 
11 Ready to complete stage 1 
CANCEL 
BACK 
NEXT

This is where you enter the temp name or IP

Remember to enter your source (original) appliance username/password as it is not copied over during the migration

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2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
Introduction 
End user license agreement 
Connect to source appliance 
Appliance deployment target 
Select folder 
Select compute resource 
Set up target appliance VM 
Select deployment size 
Select datastore 
Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server Appliance with an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
Storage (GB) 
Hosts (up to) 
10 
100 
400 
1000 
2000 
VMs (up to) 
629 
100 
1000 
4000 
10000 
35000 
CANCEL 
Select deployment size 
Select the deployment size for this vCenter Server with an Embedded Platform Services Controller. 
For more information on deployment sizes, refer to the vSphere 6.7 documentation. 
699 
825 
870 
1025 
1090 
1230 
Deployment size 
Storage size 
Resources required for different deployment sizes 
10 
16 
24 
32 
48 
Large 
Large 
Memory (GB) 
Deployment Size 
Source machine 
Tiny 
Small 
Medium 
Large 
X-Large 
vcpus 
2 
4 
8 
16 
24 
10 Configure network settings 
11 Ready to complete stage 1 
BACK 
NEXT

Pick the size of the appliance to fit your environment.

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2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
Introduction 
End user license agreement 
Connect to source appliance 
Appliance deployment target 
Select folder 
Select compute resource 
Set up target appliance VM 
Select deployment size 
Select datastore 
Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server Appliance with an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
1.007B GB 
282 TB 
Provisioned 
1.02 TB 
5.1B TB 
25 
Thin Provisioning 
Supported 
Supported 
Supported 
16 items 
NEXT 
Select datastore 
Select the storage location for this appliance 
Capacity 
Name 
DALPRD-PCI-MGMT-AES-NIM-RPL 
-v0101 
DALPRD-PCI-MGMT-AES-NW-NO 
RPL-VOIOI 
DALPRD-PCI-MGMT-AES-NIM-NO 
RPL-V0102 
Enable Thin Disk Mode 
Type 
VMFS-S 
VMFS-6 
VMFS-6 
10 Configure network settings 
11 Ready to complete stage 1 
CANCEL 
BACK

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

Machine generated alternative text:
Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server Appliance with an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
Configure network settings 
Configure network settings for this appliance 
Network 
Temporary network settings 
Ip version 
P assignment 
Temporany P address 
Subnet mask or prefix length 
Default gateway 
DNS servers 
PCIMgn-,t 
I pv4 
static 
1 Introduction 
2 End user license agreement 
3 Connect to source appliance 
4 Appliance deployment target 
5 Select folder 
6 Select compute resource 
7 Setup target appliance VM 
8 Select deployment size 
9 Select datastore 
10 Configure network settings 
11 Ready to complete stage 1 
CANCEL 
BACK 
NEXT

Finish filling in the network information of the new appliance

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2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
Introduction 
End user license agreement 
Connect to source appliance 
Appliance deployment target 
Select folder 
Select compute resource 
Set up target appliance VM 
Select deployment size 
Select datastore 
Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server Appliance with an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
dalprdesxvic02freemancocom 
dalprdesxvic01freemancocom 
dalprdesxvic01afreemanco.com 
vCenter Server with an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
Large 
Large 
Dallas 
PCI MGMT 
DALPRD-PCI-MGMT-AES-NIM-NORPL-VOIOI, thin 
10 17+4.0-24 PCIMgmt 
IPv4 , static 
10 
255.2552550 
10 
10 17.990 
CANCEL 
BACK 
FINISH 
Ready to complete stage 1 
Review your settings before starting the appliance deployment. 
Deployment Details 
Source vCenter Server with an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
Target vCenter Server 
VM name 
Deployment type 
Deployment size 
Storage size 
Datacenter Details 
Datacenter 
Compute resource 
Datastore Details 
Datastore, Disk mode 
Network Details 
Network 
IP settings 
IP address 
Subnet mask or prefix length 
Default gateway 
DNS servers 
10 Configure network settings 
11 Ready to complete stage 1

Confirm all the information is correct and click finish

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Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server Appliance with an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
0% 
Initializing... 
CANCEL Machine generated alternative text:
Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server Appliance with an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
Deploying the appliance 
CANCEL Machine generated alternative text:
Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server Appliance with an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
Waiting for RPM installation to start. This may take several minutes... 
CLOSE Machine generated alternative text:
Upgrade - Stage 1: Deploy vCenter Server Appliance with an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
Installed VMware-TlsReconfigurator-6.7.O-14367737.x86 64.rpm 
90% 
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Step 3 / Stage 2 – Migrate old VCSA persona to new VCSA

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2 
3 
4 
S 
Upgrade - Stage 2: vCenter Server Appliance witn an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
Introduction 
Introduction 
This wizard ellows you to upgrtde a vCenter Server Applience (6.0 or 6.5) with tn 
Connect to source vCenter Sew 
embedded Pletform Services Controller. 
Select upgrede deta 
Stege 
Configure CEIP 
Reedy to complete 
Deploy nev.,• vCenter Server Applience 
Stege 2 
Upgrede source vCenter Server 
Applience 
Upgreding the epplitnce is e two st-ge process. The first st-ge hes been completed. 
The second stege copies date from the source vCenter Server Applience to the 
deployed applience. Make sure you heve backed up dete on the source appliance 
before orogressing with the uvgrade Click Next. to oroceed with stage 2 
CANCEL 
NEXT

Next

Machine generated alternative text:
vrn 
Upgrade - Stage 2: vCenter Server Appliance with an Emöecdcded Platform Services Controller 
Connect to source vCenter Server 
troducti( 
Source '*Center Server 
cr l! 
z"prdesx ic02.freemtn 
Connect to source vCenter Ser„ 
;elect Ipgrede dete 
anfigure CEL 
Qeel 
completé 
Pre-upgrade checks ere in progress 
ESXi host or vCenter Server that manages the source vCenter Server 
ESX7 host ( - vCenter Ser'* 
nerne 
T7PS 
ANCE 
BACK

Fix any errors or document any warnings from the check

Machine generated alternative text:
2 
3 
4 
S 
Upgrade - Stage 2: vCenter Server Appliance witn an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
Select upgrade data 
Introduction 
Select the deta thet you went to copy from the source vCenter Server. 
Connect to source vCenter Sew 
The dete sizes shown below represent only the date thet will be copied to the terget 
Select upgrade data 
server. It does not correspond to the ectuel size of your dete on the source server. The 
identity of the server will also be copied and the source server will remein unchenged. 
Configure CEIP 
O 
Configuration (3.06 6B) Estimated downtime: 39 minutes 
Reedy to complete 
Configuration and historical data (events and tasks) (4.28 GB) 
O 
Configuration and historical data (events, tasks and performance metrics) (4.6 6B) 
CANCEL 
BACK 
NEXT

I select the configuration and historical data.

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2 
3 
4 
S 
Introduction 
Connect to source vCenter Sew 
Select upgrede deta 
configure CEP 
Reedy to complete 
Upgrade - Stage 2: vCenter Server Appliance witn an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
configure CEP 
Join the VMwtre Customer Experience Improvement Progrem 
VMware's Customer Experience Improvement Program ("CEIP") prov'ides 
VMware with informetion that enables VMwere to improve its products end 
services, to fix problems, end to tdvise you on how best to deploy end use our 
products. As pert of the CEIP, VMwere collects technicel informttion —bout your 
organizetion's use of VMwere products and services on a reguler besis in 
essocietion with your orgtnizetion's VMwtre license key(s). This informetion 
does not personally identify tny individuel. 
Addition-I information regerding the deta collected thfl3ugh CEIP end the 
purposes for which it is used by VMware is set forth in the Trust & Assurtnce 
Center at http://www.vmwere.com/trustvmware/ceip_html. 
f you prefer not to participete in VMwere's CEIP for this p&uct, you should 
uncheck the box below You mey join or leave VMware's CEIP for this product et 
-ny time. 
Joining CEIP will Elso eneble vSphere Health end if you htve vSAN, VSAN 
Join the VMware's Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) 
NEXT 
CANCEL 
BACK

Join the CEIP

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2 
3 
4 
S 
Upgrade - Stage 2: vCenter Server Appliance witn an Embedded Platform Services Controller 
Ready to complete 
Review settings before completing the wiz—rd. 
Source vCenter Server Appliance with embedded PSC 
Introduction 
Connect to source vCenter Sew 
Select upgrede deta 
Configure CEIP 
Reedy to complete 
FQDN or IP eddress 
Version 
delprdesxvic02freemtnco.com 
Target vCenter Server Appliance with embedded PSC 
FQDN or IP eddress (temporery) 
FQDN or IP eddress (post-upgrtde) 
Version 
Upgrade Data 
Dete to copy 
Size 
10.17.S4_26 
delprdesxvic02freemtnco.com 
6.7.0.40000 
Configuration end historic—I dete (events end 
tasks) 
4.28 Ga 
Customer Experience Improvement Program 
CEIP setting 
Opted in 
I have backed up the source vCenter Server and all the required data from the 
database. 
CANCEL 
BACK 
FINISH

Confirm the configuration is correct and then click finish and let the fun begin

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OK

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Upgrade 
Stage 2: Data transfer and appliance setup is in progress 
1. Copy data trom source vCenter Server to target vCenter Server 
Preparing source system for exporting dete._. 
2. Set up target vCenter Server and start services 
3. Import copied data to target vCenter Server Machine generated alternative text:
Upgrade 
Stage 2: Data transfer and appliance setup is in progress 
1. Copy data trom source vCenter Server to target vCenter Server 
E 
xporting dete from source system_._ 
2. Set up target vCenter Server and start services 
3. Import copied data to target vCenter Server Machine generated alternative text:
Upgrade 
Stage 2: Data transfer and appliance setup is in progress 
1. Copy data trom source vCenter Server to target vCenter Server 
2. Set up target vCenter Server and start services 
Starting VMwere Postgres._. 
3. Import copied data to target vCenter Server Machine generated alternative text:
Messages 
Informetion 
i 
Informetion 
i 
If using Auto Deploy, update the DHCP settings end 
updete the TFTP settings with the new set of tremp 
files from the new Auto Deploy server _ 
vSphere 6.7 disebles the TLS 1.0 end TLS protocols 
for improved security Note: Some epplications might 
support only the older protocols. To revert to the less 
secure TLS 10 end TLS pn3tocols, run the TLS 
Reconfiguretor tool. Tool location: vCenter Server 
Applience: /usr/lib/vmware- 
TlsReconfigurttor/VcTlsReconfigurttor vCenter Server 
on Windows: 
%VMWARE CIS HOME%XTIsReconfiguretorWcTIsReconfigur 
See for deteils_ 
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