Unable to upgrade from Esxi 3.5 to 4

[jypsmh]

Hello,

Error on all esxi when using Vsphere Host Update Utility :

box exception : entry chain format incorrect (Le format de la chaine d'entrée est incorrecte)

between Host Credentials and Host Compatibility Check

I see "Running compatibility check" but never ending (running all night)

New install of Esxi 4 on this servers run without problem, it's not an hardware compatibility proble.

Some ideas.

[DSTAVERT]

Are you trying to upgrade from 3.5 to 4 Update 1?

[jypsmh]

yes, 3.5 with all patches to 4 update 1, but 4 or 4 U1, it's the same thing

[DSTAVERT]

Is this installed on USB? There were some failed partition issues which caused USB upgrades to fail. Upgrading a USB install is no longer supported but if the partition structure is correct the upgrade does work.

I found I couldn't go directly from 3.5 to 4 Update 1. I needed to 4 and then Update 1 as a patch.

[AlbertWT]

Hi There,

I also face the same problem few years ago while upgrading the ESXi 3.5u4 (installed on Hard drive) into ESXi4.0 164009, I even tried to modify the XML file according to the recommendation of several people but yes, still no luck.

Therefore I'now always performing clean install

Kind Regards,

AWT

[jypsmh]

I am on hard drive

[jypsmh]

but after a clean install, how did you convert your ESXi 3.5 Virtual Machines for compatibiliy with 4 ?

[J1mbo · Accepted solution]

Clean install definitely the way to go, it only takes a few minutes.

Once done, load the new tools, then add the existing datastore. Browse through it and right-click on each VMs .vmx file and select "add to inventory". Return to main screen and turn them on

Please award points to any useful answer.

[J1mbo]

Just to add, if you then want to upgrade the virtual machine hardware version to v7, you must install the new vmtools on each guest first.

Please award points to any useful answer.

[jypsmh]

new install, with new datastore (on the same server), and if i can upload old VM in new datastore, i can not add to inventory !

I am guilty, I have done an export (ovf) and not a copy (vmx) !

[J1mbo]

No need to do anything with the existing datastore. But obviously back everything up!

Please award points to any useful answer.

[gautelund]

Just in case anyone else stumbles upon this thread: You need to set your Regional Settings to "English (US)". Look here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/942460

[Robert_Crespy]

Yes!

Changing settings to English (US) works!

Many thanks for your great post, Gautelund