Hi all,
we are sketching an upgrade plan from ESX 4.1 to ESXi 5.1.
The cluster includes 3 Dell R710 hosts and the vCenter server is a Windows 2008 VM.
Since we don't want any headaches from a painful and tedious migration to a new vCenter and new SQL Express, we want to install a brand new vCenter 5.1 and when we're confident it's working fine (SSO, Inventory service and stuff) we'd start decommissioning the old one and start the real migration.
- Install a new vCenter 5.1 + Update Manager 5.1 on HostC
- Evacuate HostA, put it in maintenance mode, disable HA and DRS in the cluster
- Disconnect and remove HostA from the cluster
- Power off HostA, disconnect FC cables
- Boot from customized vSphere ESXi 5.1 ISO image for Dell R710 & upgrade existing ESX 4.1 instance
- Reconnect FC cables and reconnect upgraded HostA to new vCenter
- Evacuate HostB, same process...
- Move vCenter off HostC and eventually upgrade HostC...
Does it make sense or do you have any other (better) option?
Thank you!