Resolved - vCenter Server 6 (Windows) - Do I Need to Do Anything to vCenter Server to Update from 6.0 to U1b?
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I have vCenter Server 6 running on Windows and I just patched my 3 ESXi 6 hosts to bring them to Update 1b. Do I need to do anything to my vCenter Server installation? I can only seem to find mentions of updating the vCenter Server Appliance.
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I found this, but I am not sure if this is the only thing I need to do.
Update the Java Components and vCenter Server tc Server with VIMPatch
You can separately update the Java version of all vCenter Server components depending on JRE server by using the VIMPatch ISO file.
You can apply the patch without reinstalling the vCenter Server components. The patch delivers updates for JRE.
Prerequisites
■Download the Java Components patch from VMware downloads page at https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/patch. The name format is VMware-VIMPatch-6.0.0-build_number-YYYYMMDD.iso.
■Stop any vCenter Server component operations, as when you apply the patch, all running services will be stopped.
Procedure
1-Mount the VMware-VIMPatch-6.0.0-build_number-YYYYMMDD.iso to the system where the vCenter Server component is installed.
2-Double-click ISO_mount_directory/autorun.exe. A vCenter Server Java Components Update wizard opens.
3-Click Patch All.The patch checks whether the Java components are up to date and silently updates them if necessary.
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So after a cross-post on SW (thanks JeffNew1213), I got the answer to my question. Simply mount the latest vCenter server ISO, run the installer and you will be prompted to upgrade. Also do the same for update manager. I also had to clear cache and cookies in Firefox to successfully login with my AD credentials.
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@wrx7m said:
So after a cross-post on SW (thanks JeffNew1213), I got the answer to my question. Simply mount the latest vCenter server ISO, run the installer and you will be prompted to upgrade. Also do the same for update manager. I also had to clear cache and cookies in Firefox to successfully login with my AD credentials.
I haven't looked at vCenter 6 - it runs on Windows now?
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@Dashrender vCenter server has always run on Windows. They introduced a virtual appliance (non-windows) in version 5 (I believe), known as vCenter Server Appliance but if you want to run VUM, you need a Windows server for that, so I decided to keep using the Windows version.
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@wrx7m said:
@Dashrender vCenter server has always run on Windows. They introduced a virtual appliance (non-windows) in version 5 (I believe), known as vCenter Server Appliance but if you want to run VUM, you need a Windows server for that, so I decided to keep using the Windows version.
aww - I never did that - use install vCenter on Windows. The Windows tax is to expensive for that madness. $800+ just to support managing the ESXi servers. and that's on top of the expense for ESXi that you've already paid.
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They have made good strides in terms of increasing the robustness and capabilities of the appliance. Also, the Windows version now uses the vPostgres database for the internal option (used to be SQL server express) but the update manager still uses SQL server express for the internal option.
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@wrx7m said:
They have made good strides in terms of increasing the robustness and capabilities of the appliance. Also, the Windows version now uses the vPostgres database for the internal option (used to be SQL server express) but the update manager still uses SQL server express for the internal option.
But why continue to use a paid product instead (i.e. paying for Windows server license) instead of using the appliance? Is their functionality any difference?
I only have two ESXi (whoops - one, I converted one two weeks ago) servers. so I don't see anything missing that I wish I had.
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@Dashrender Since I use the update manager, I am using a Windows server. Once they offer the update manager for the appliance (or create an appliance just for it), I will dump the Windows version.
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Can't you run the update manager from your desktop? I thought I recall them having one in the v5.x days.
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@Dashrender Possibly. But I prefer using server aspects on server OSes
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@wrx7m said:
@Dashrender Possibly. But I prefer using server aspects on server OSes
How many hosts are we talking about here?
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@Dashrender just 3 hosts
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Does your vCenter run on a different server than one of those three hosts?
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@Dashrender No, the vCenter server with update manager runs on one of those hosts.
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So, assuming you aren't using the vCenter for anything else, you could install the appliance, and install the ESXi host updater program on any of your other Server VMs and save a license for something else.
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True.
