ESXi Migration

Kyle Gleed Technical Marketing Manager kgleed@vmware.com

Agenda
ESXi Convergence ESXi Architecture Migrating to ESXi Pre-Migration Tasks The Migration Process Post-Migration Tasks

Converging to ESXi with the next vSphere release

With the GA o vSphere !"# in $ul% &'#' (Mware o iciall% announced that starting with the next vSphere our h%pervisor architecture will converge to ESXi )ro* the release note+
VMware vSphere 4.1 and its su se!uent update and patch releases are the last releases to include oth "S# and "S#i hypervisor architectures. $uture ma%or releases o& VMware vSphere will include only the VMware "S#i architecture.

VMware recommends that customers start transitioning to the "S#i architecture when
deploying VMware vSphere 4.1.

VMware will continue to provide technical support &or VMware "S# according to the
the VMware "S#i and "S# 'n&o)enter.

VMware vSphere support policy on the VMware "nterprise 'n&rastructure Support page.

To learn more a out the "S#i architecture and how to migrate &rom "S# to "S#i( go to

ESXi is included with all vSphere editions

ESXi is a high per or*ance enterprise-read% h%pervisor architecture can ,e used to address an% o the vSphere use cases

(Mware ESXi and ESX h%pervisor architectures co*parison

(Mware ESX -%pervisor Architecture (Mware ESXi -%pervisor Architecture

Code base disk footprint: $ %&' VMware agents run in Console "( #early all other anage ent functionality pro!ided by agents running in the Console "( )sers ust log into Console "( in order to run co ands for configuration and diagnostics

Code base disk footprint: <100 M. VMware agents ported to run directly on VMkernel Authorized 3rd party odules can also run in VMkernel to pro!ide hw onitoring and dri!ers "ther capabilities necessary for integration into an enterprise datacenter are pro!ided nati!ely #o other arbitrary code is allowed on the syste

Wh% ESXi/
Next generation of VMwares Hypervisor Architecture
)ull- eatured h%pervisor

(uperior consolidation and scalability (a e perfor ance as VMware *(+ architecture

More secure and relia,le

( all code base thanks to "(,-ndependent. thin architecture

Strea*lined deplo%*ent and con iguration

/ewer configuration ite s aking it easier to aintain consistency Auto ation of routine tasks through scripting en!iron ents such as !C0- or 1owerC0-

Si*pli ied h%pervisor Patching and 0pdating

( aller code base 2 fewer patches 3he 4dual,i age5 approach lets you re!ert to prior i age if desired VMware co ponents and third party co ponents can be updated independently

The Gartner Group sa%s1

2The *a3or ,ene it o ESXi is the act that it is *ore lightweight 4 under #''M. versus &G. or (Mware ESX with the service console"5 2S*aller *eans ewer patches5 26t also eli*inates the need to *anage a separate 7inux console 8and the 7inux skills needed to *anage it915 2(Mware users should put a plan in place to *igrate to ESXi during the next #& to #: *onths"5
(ource: &artner. August %010

ESXi Migration
Preparing Pre-Migration Migration Post Migration

ESXi Migration
Preparing Pre-Migration Migration Post Migration

Preparing to Migrate

A,out the ESXi Migration

*(+ host disconnected fro 9eplace *(+ with *(+i
Assigned the sa e hostna e and -1 Address

;ot an upgrade in the traditional sense

!Center and shutdown
VMs stay running 6!Motion7(!Motion8

69e8Connect *(+i host in !Center 9e,configure *(+i host

The ESX host speci ic settings are lost and need to ,e restored
*(+i assu es the identity of the *(+ host

Migrate to ESXi !"# directl% ro* ESX <"=> !"'> or !"#

:o not need to step through the releases 6i;e; 3;< ,= >;0 ,= >;18 1rior to igrating you ust be running !(phere >;1

Preparing to Migrate

6*portant Considerations+ 0pgrading vCenter Sever

!Center ust be upgraded first

-ardware Co*pati,ilit%
Verify your hardware is supported 'oot disk !s; 0ocal disks (hared (torage Any changes needed when the C"( goes away? )pgrade or replace hardware? !C :' local or re ote?

Storage Considerations

?perational Changes

6denti %ing %our Migration Path

1roper planning is crucial to a successful *(+i

igration

Preparing to Migrate

0pgrading vCenter Server

!Center ust be running at or abo!e the *(+i !ersion

i;e;

igrating to *(+i >;1. need !Center >;1 or higher

(hould you upgrade or replace your VirtualCenter7!Center (er!er?

(er!er eet the hardware and "( 9e@uire ents? #ew !C :' or con!ert an eAisting !C :'? !C :' database supported? !C :' run local or re ote?

Bhat !Center 1lug,ins are used7enabled? Bill you need to con!ert any V-3 licenses? Consider your ti efra e to co plete the igration?

Bill you

igrate all hosts at once. or gradually o!er ti e?

9eco end you con!ert7 igrate your eAisting !C :' when possible and keep the !C :' on a separate host to acco odate growth

Preparing to Migrate

-ardware co*pati,ilit% considerations

)sing the sa e hardware or replacing with new ser!ers?

-s the *(+ ser!er running on C>bit hardware? -s the *(+ ser!er and related co ponents on the *(+i DC0?
http:77www;! ware;co 7resources7co patibility7search;php
Any hardware changes to coincide with the *(+i igration?

Add79eplace C1) or Me ory? Add79eplace #-Cs or D'As? /ir ware updates? "ther?

9eco end you co plete and !alidate any hardware changes before igrating to eli inate risk of hardware proble s ha pering your igration

Preparing to Migrate

Storage Considerations
9unning (A#. #A(. i(C(-? /C 4re,disco!ered5 on boot #A(7i(C(anually re,configured (a!e #A(7i(C(- configs

)se the *(+i Migration Dost Configuration Borksheet <link to worksheet=

Any storage changes to coincide with the igration?

Add79e o!e79eplace :isks? Add79e o!e 0)#s? Add79e o!e replication?

9eco end you co plete and !alidate any storage changes before igrating to eli inate risk of storge proble s ha pering your igration

Preparing to Migrate

Storage Considerations 8cont"9

'oot fro local disk. (A#. (:. )('?

.oot @isk
"!erwriting an eAisting *(+ installation? Any VMs or te plates stored on the boot disk?

)nused storage on the boot disk is auto atically for atted as VM/( Bhen *(+i is installed. boot disk is auto atically re,partitioned
Any VMs and te plates residing on the boot disk will be lost

7ocal @isk8s9
0ocal disk 2 non,boot disks only accessible to the *(+ host VMs7te plates on local disks are not affected by the igration VMs and te plates on local disks need to be anually re,registered following the igration

9eco end you use (!Motion to igrate VMs7te plates off the boot disk prior to igrating; 9ecord location of VMs73e plates on local disk;

Preparing to Migrate

?perational Considerations
9unning anything in the C"(?

Agents73ools7(cripts?
Bill you still need the agent7tool7script functionality following the igration ?

:o you need to o!e agents7tools inside VMs :o you need to con!ert scripts to 1owerC0- or !C0 Bill you use !C0- or 1owerC0- for re ote anage ent?

Assign a Bindows Manage ent VM for 1owerC0 :eploy the !MA for !C0 -dentify local procedures that you will need to adapt:

Dost onitoring 6(#M1. C-M8 Dost backups Auto ated deploy ent and pro!isioning tools

9eco

end you assign a

anage ent VM for re ote

anage ent;

Preparing to Migrate

Choosing a Migration Path

VMware reco Co on ends always upgrading to latest !ersion of !(phere. i;e; >;1 igration paths 6assu es !(phere >;1 is target release8:

V-3;< ,= !(phere >;1

9unning VirtualCenter %;< 7 *(+ 3;< and o!ing to !Center >;1 7 *(+i >;1

!(phere >;0 ,= !(phere >;1i

9unning !(phere >;0 and 9unning !(phere >;0 and o!ing to !Center >;1 7 *(+i >;1 o!ing to !Center >;1 7 *(+i >;1

!(phere >;1 ,= !(phere >;1i

Eou can go directly to !(phere >;1. it is not necessary to step through the different releases 6i;e; 3;< ,= >;0 ,= >;18

9e@uire ent: always upgrade !Center firstF #ote that you cannot anage *(+ %;A hosts in !Center >;1; 9e o!e *(+ %;A hosts before igrating;

Preparing to Migrate
Gey Huestions
(eri % vCenter (ersion

vCenter 0pgrade Path

(eri % vCenter -ardware vC @. location (eri % vC @. Architecture Choose 0pgrade Path

Preparing to Migrate

ESX to ESXi !"# Migration Path

vCenter 0pgrade (eri % ESX (ersion (eri % -ardware (eri % Storage Migrate or Shutdown (Ms 0pgrade to ESXi !"#

Preparing to 0pgrade

Su**ar%
- pact on deploy ent - pact on operations

6*portant to understand the ESXi architecture

.e aware o ke% reAuire*ents and li*itations

)pgrade !Center first C>,bit Dardware re@uired 6!Center. VC:'. *(+8 VMs73e plates on the *(+ ,oot disk that cannot be igrated will be lost VMs73e plates on local disk that cannot be igrated will need to be re, registered

Take advantage o the vSphere Enterprise B C' da% evaluation license

)se !Motion7s!Motion to igrate VMs )se DA7:9( to aintain upti e

ESXi Migration
Preparing Pre-Migration Migration Post Migration

Migration to ESXi

Pre-*igration ?verview
(tep 1: Migrate VM( off *(+ host (tep %: 1ut Dost into Maintenance Mode and re o!e fro DA7:9( cluster

Migration to ESXi

Dolling upgrades allowed

-n a rolling upgrade:

*(+i igration is perfor ed o!er ultiple aintenance windows :uring each window only one or two hosts are igrated at a ti e
9unning a iA of *(+ 3;<. *(+ >;0. *(+ >;1 and *(+i >;1 hosts in the sa e cluster is allowed

Bhile running with iAed !ersions a!oid deploying new VMs or upgrading VM hardware !ersions or ! tools
:eploying a new VM on an *(+i >;1 host with hardware !ersion I could cause proble s if the host fails and the VM is re,started on an *(+ 3;< host for eAa ple
Managing 3;< hosts with !Center >;1 beyond the C0 day e!aluation periods will re@uire installing a 3;< license ser!er to anage the 3;< license keys

Mini ize the ti e spent running a cluster with

iAed !ersions of *(+

Migration to ESXi

Step #+ Migrate (MsETe*plates o the -ost

*!acuate all VMs and te plates off the host

)se !Motion7s!Motion to igrate VMs Any VMs you are unable to igrate will need to be shutdown
#ote: VMs73e plates on the boot disk will be lost during the igration

3ake ad!antage of the !Center C0 day *nterprise J e!aluation license

Migration to ESXi

Step &+ Place the host into *aintenance *ode

/ro !Center right,click on the host ,= aintenance ode 9e o!e the host fro the DA7:9( cluster

DA auto atically disabled when host is put into

aintenance

ode

Caution. putting the *(+ host into aintenance ode could affect ad ission control; :o #"3 re o!e the host fro the !Center in!entoryF

ESXi Migration
Preparing Pre-Migration Migration Post Migration

Migration to ESXi

Migration ?verview
(tep 1: -nstall *(+i (tep %: 0ogon to *(+i K 6re8configure the host (tep 3: 9econnect the *(+i host to !Center K 6re8configure (tep >: 9e,register any VMs73e plates on local storage

Migration to ESXi

Step #+ 6nstall ESXi

'oot host off install edia /ollow pro pts to install *(+i #ote that the *(+i installation will o!erwrite the boot disk

Migration to ESXi

Step &+ 7ogon to the @irect Console 0ser 6nter ace 8@C069 and con igure host settings
/ro the :C)- configure:

(et the root password Configure #-Cs for the anage ent network Configure the hostna e and :#( (et the -1 address. gateway. and default route

Migration to ESXi

Step <+ Deconnect the ESXi host in vCenter and 8re9con igure
9ight click the host in !Center and choose 4Connect5

Bhen pro pted pro!ide the *(+i ser!er user and password
)sing the Dost Configuration Borksheet reconfigure the *(+i host

Add7Configure #31. !(wiches and 1ort&roups. #/( :atastores. i(C( Mo!e the ser!er back into the DA cluster

Migration to ESXi

Step !+ De-register (Ms and Te*plates on local storage

-n !Center go to -n!entory ,= :atastores /or each local datastore

9ight click ,= 'rowse *Apand the VM folder 9ight click ,= Add to -n!entory

Migration to ESXi

Migration -ighlights+
Eou can igrate to *(+i with no VM downti e

9e@uires !Motion7s!Motion )se the !(phere C0 day *nterprise J e!aluation licenseF

9olling upgrades are possible

MiAed clusters with *(+ 3;<7>;07>;1 and *(+i >;1 are supported Mini ize the ti e running clusters with iAed *(+ !ersions
*(+i retains the *(+ hostLs identity in !Center

:isconnect. but do not re o!e *(+ host fro !Center 9e o!ing host fro !Center re o!es all historical and perfor ance data related to the host fro the VC:'
*sti ated igration ti e per host 2 30 inutes

*(+i -nstallation 2 10 inutes Configure 3C17-1 and reconnect to !Center 2 < 9e,configure host in !Center 2 1< inutes

inutes

ESXi Migration
Preparing Pre-Migration Migration Post Migration

Post Migration Tasks

ESXi @irect Console 0ser 6nter ace 8@C069

:C)-. 0ockdown Mode. and 3roubleshooting "ptions can be enabled7disabled fro the !(phere Client

Post Migration Tasks

ESXi 7ockdown Mode

Bhen in 0ockdown Mode all configuration changes go through !Center (er!er

Post Migration Tasks

ESXi Trou,leshooting Services

0ocal 3ech (upport Mode 63(M8
*nable7:isable local shell access to the host

9e ote 3ech (upport Mode (er!ice 6((D8

*nable7:isable re ote ((D access to the host

Modify 3ech (upport ti eout

3i eout when 3ech (upport Mode logins are auto atically disabled

9estart Manage ent Agents

9estart agents that allow re ote anage ent

:o not enable troubleshooting ser!ices until they are re@uired; Bhen troubleshooting ser!ices are enabled. anyone who is logged in has co plete control of the host

Post Migration Tasks

Con igure the ESXi Scratch Partition

>&' 6default8 partition )sed to store output fro ounted as 7scratch ! ,support as well as upgrade files

Created auto atically during install if disk = <&' Can be 6re8configured on boot disk or other local or (A# datastore

Post Migration Tasks

Con igure the ESXi Scratch Partition 8cont"9

Creating a (cratch 1artition

3ech (upport Mode 7 (cripted -nstall:

!i ,c d hosts!c7ad!opt7update (cratchConfig;Configured(cratch0ocation string 7! fs7!olu es7storage17<uni@ue,na e=

!C0-:
!icfg,ad!cfg;pl ,,ser!er <hostna e= ,,userna e root ,s 7! fs7!olu es7storage17<uni@ue,na e= (cratchConfig;Configured(cratch0ocation

1owerC0-:
(et,VMDostAd!ancedConfiguration ,VMDost 6&et,VMDost <f@dn,hostna e=8 ,#a e M(cratchConfig;Configured(cratch0ocationM ,Value M7! fs7!olu es7storage17<uni@ue,na e=M

Post Migration Tasks

Active @irector%
Noin *(+i host to Acti!e :irectory using the !(phere Client (elect the host and choose Configuration ,= Authentication (er!ices ,= 1roperties :o ain na e for at:

#a e;tld 6i;e; ! ware;co 8 #a e;tld7container7path 6i;e; ! ware;co 7")17")%8

(ee the *(+i Configuration &uide. Chapter 13

Post Migration Tasks

Setup S%slog
*(+i syste logs are stored in e ory and do not persist reboots unless redirected to a log host )se the !(phere Client to setup log host:

(elect the host and choose Configuration ,= Ad!anced (ettings ,= (yslog *nter the re ote logging host for S%slog"De*ote"-ostna*e
(ee *(+i -nstallable and !Center (er!er (etup &uide. Chapter C

Post Migration Tasks

?ther Post Migration Tasks

!icfg,cfgbackup

ESXi host con iguration ,ackup Setup S;MP

!icfg,sn p

Con igure -ost Pro iles

!(phere Client

PatchingE0pdating with vSphere 0pdate Manager 8(0M9 SetupECon igure the vSphere C76 (irtual Appliance 8vMA9 6nstallECon igure PowerC76 0pgrade (M Tools 0pgrade (M -ardware (ersion 0pgrade (M)S (ersion

Call to action or (Mware partners

7earn a,out ESXi and ,eco*e an expert Make sure %our custo*ers know a,out ESXi convergence in the next release o vSphere -elp %our custo*ers plan and co*plete their ESX to ESXi *igrations with their upgrade to vSphere !"# When working on new vSphere !"# deplo%*ents advise %our custo*ers to deplo% ESXi directl%

-elp Four Custo*ers Plan Their Migration to ESXi Toda%

(uture proof VMware #eploy"ents %y "igrating to ESXi

(Mware ESXi architecture will ,e the onl% h%pervisor in uture vSphere releases a ter vSphere !"#
)or *ore in or*ation+
(isit the ESXi page on Partner Central+
https:77naC;salesforce;co 7apeA7page?na e2products;esAi

(isit the ESXi and ESX 6n o Center+ www"v*ware"co*EgoEESXi6n oCenter Dead 2VMware ESXi: Planning !"ple"entation an# Security$
%y &ave Mischen'o *9elease :ate: +cto er ,-1-( list price .4/.//0

Degister or (Mware training 2Transitioning to ESXi5+

www"v*ware"co*EgoEesxiEeducation

Desources
ESXi 6n o Center
http:77www;! ware;co 7products7!sphere7esAi,and,esA7

ESXi Chronicles .log

http:77blogs;! ware;co 7esAi7

(Mware Co**unities
http:77co http:77co o!er!iew unities;! ware;co 7co unities;! ware;co 7co unity7! tn7!sphere7esAi unity7! tn7!sphere7auto ationtools?!iew2

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