How to Upgrade vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) 6.0 to 6.5

This guide will walk you through the steps to upgrade your vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) 6.0 to 6.5.

Upgrading vCenter Appliance 6.0 to 6.5

To begin with the upgrade process, you need to download the ISO image from VMware. For Windows, under the vcsa-ui-installer\win32 directory double click installer.exe file to initiate the setup wizard.

This setup wizard allows you to choose Install, Upgrade, Migrate, or Restore. Since, you are upgrading your existing vCenter Appliance, Click Upgrade.

The vCenter 6.5 upgrade is a two stage process.

1. In first stage, a new appliance will be deployed to the target vCenter or ESXi host.
2. In 2nd stage, the upgrade process copies data from the existing vCenter Appliance

It is recommended practice to create backup of your existing appliance before proceeding to upgrade.

Click Next to begin with Stage 1

Accept EULA agreement. Click Next

At this point, You need to provide the details for the source appliance that you want to upgrade. Click Next

Click Yes

Specify the appliance deployment target settings. The target can be either ESXi host or vCenter Server instance.

Click Yes

Here you need to specify the VM name and root password. Once done, Click Next

Choose deployment size according to your environment. Click Next

Select the storage location and Click on "Enable Thin Disk Mode" then Click Next

Configure network settings. Click Next

Verify network settings. Click Next

Stage 1 upgrade process started.

Stage 1 process completed.

Lets begin with stage 2. Click Next

Wait while the pre-upgrade checks are in progress.

Pre-upgrade check shows a warning and resolution. Ensure the following within your environment and Click Close.

Choose the upgrade data to be copied from source vCenter. I am going with last option. Click Next

Click Join the VMware CEIP. Click Next

Click to confirm that you have backed up and Click Next to proceed.

Here you have a warning about your existing vCenter. Click OK.

Stage 2 in progress

Data has been copied. Now setting up target vCenter

Importing copied data to target vCenter

This is information window, Click Close

Stage 2 upgrade process  completed.

Upgraded.

Conclusion

We have successfully upgraded from vCenter Server Appliance 6.0 to 6.5