Migrating VMs from 5.5 to 6.0 environment

[marc0g]

We are about to install a new environment where we want to move the existing VMs to with as little impact as possible. I found many similar questions already but none for my specific problem.

Old environment

• vCenter Server 5.5
• ESXi 5.5 u3 (Build 3116895)

New environment

• vCenter Server 6.0 u1
• ESXi 6.0 u1

As I understand, you Cross vCenter vMotion is not supported with vCenter Server 5.5. Would it be an option to Upgrade the old vCenter only without touching the hosts to enable vMotion (if EVC is OK)?

Any strings attached to offline migration?

Your answer is much appreciated!

[rcporto · Accepted solution]

An option is just move the ESXi 5.5 hosts from the vCenter 5.5 to the vCenter 6.0, here is the KB: VMware KB: Moving a managed ESXi/ESX host from one vCenter Server to another vCenter Server

Note that if you're using vDS, there is another KB: VMware KB: Moving an ESX/ESXi host with vDS from one vCenter Server to another

Following one of the KBs that I posted you can move the old hosts to the new vCenter without downtime, but take in mind that to vMotion VMs from the old hosts to the new one, even with hosts managed by the same vCenter, maybe cannot be possible, since you may have different processors on the old and new hosts... a workaround will be enable EVC on the destination cluster, but again everything depends of the processor.

[marc0g]

Hi Richardson, thanks a lot for your reply! Your approach could work for us I will have to go through the details and let you know about the outcome.

[rcporto]

You're welcome and don't forget mark answers as helpful or correct.