Step by Step Upgrade from VMware vCenter Server 5.1 to vCenter Server 5.1 Update 1

Applies to: VMware vCenter Server 5.1 → 5.1 Update 1

Historical: This article covers the Windows-based vCenter Server 5.1 architecture and its upgrade to vCenter Server 5.1 Update 1. This release is no longer supported and the component-by-component upgrade model described here does not apply to current vCenter Server releases.

vCenter Server 5.1 separated several core services into individual components, including Single Sign-On (SSO), Inventory Service, vCenter Server, and the vSphere Web Client. Because of that architecture, upgrading to 5.1 Update 1 required the components to be updated in the correct order.

In This Article

• 1. Before the Upgrade
• 2. Recommended Upgrade Sequence
• 3. Verify the Upgrade
• 4. Key Takeaways

1. Before the Upgrade

Before upgrading a vSphere 5.1 environment, verify interoperability with any VMware products and plug-ins that depend on vCenter Server. Also make sure that the vCenter database and the server configuration are backed up before starting the update.

For reference, the original vCenter Server 5.1 release was build 799731, while vCenter Server 5.1 Update 1 was build 1065152.

2. Recommended Upgrade Sequence

1. Update vCenter Single Sign-On.
2. Reboot the vCenter Server if required.
3. Update VMware vCenter Inventory Service.
4. Update VMware vCenter Server.
5. Update VMware vSphere Web Client.
6. Update VMware vSphere Update Manager if it is installed.
7. After the vCenter components are complete and validated, update the ESXi hosts according to the supported upgrade sequence for the environment.

The important point in this release was to update the infrastructure services that vCenter depended on before updating vCenter Server itself.

3. Verify the Upgrade

• Confirm that the vCenter Server services are running.
• Connect to vCenter and verify inventory visibility.
• Confirm that ESXi hosts remain connected.
• Verify that the vSphere Web Client can authenticate and display the inventory.
• Check any installed plug-ins or dependent VMware products before proceeding with host upgrades.

4. Key Takeaways

• This procedure applies specifically to vCenter Server 5.1 Update 1.
• The vCenter 5.1 architecture required several components to be updated separately.
• SSO and Inventory Service were updated before vCenter Server.
• Interoperability with other VMware products had to be checked before upgrading.
• Current vCenter Server releases use a different architecture and upgrade process.

References

• Broadcom – VMware vCenter Server build numbers and versions
• VMware – vSphere Security Configuration Guide Archive