Upgrade VMware vSphere ESXi 5.1 to 5.5 step by step guide

Below is a simple step by step guide (cut down version) on how to upgrade your on-premises ESXi 5.1 to 5.5.  The process is similar to going from 5.0 to 5.1 (detailed step by step guide) but major improvements in the Single Sign-On (SSO) database setup.

Summary of the upgrade steps:

1) Run Host Agent Pre-Upgrade Checker

2) Single Sign-On (SSO) installation (Simple / Custom)

3) VMware vSphere Web Client Upgrade

4) VMware vCenter Inventory Service

5) VMware vCenter Server Upgrade

6) VMware vSphere Client Upgrade

7) VMware vSphere Update Manager Upgrade

8) VMware vCenter Support tools

a. Dump Collector

b. Syslog Collector

9) VMware ESXi 5.1 Upgrade

Run Host Agent Pre-Upgrade Checker

Download the latest version from VMware (click here)

Run the installed by attaching the ISO onto vCenter 5.1 (virtualised).

Next

Depending on your setup choose the correct credential option

I only wanted to scan and check my host in my lab environment. If you want to scan all hosts choose standard mode.

Select default option until you get pass on your hosts and the press finish.

Single Sign On installation / upgrade (Simple / custom)

In my lab I have all the roles on my same virtual machine (Single Sign-On, vSphere Web Client, vCenter Inventory Service, vCenter Server). In my production the roles are split up so I would then choose “custom”

Earlier version is detected and will be upgraded as per message. Make sure you have a backup before upgrading!

Important! SSO now relies heavily on DNS. As my previous installation was via IP it will prompt the warning message but also identify the FQDN for the virtual machine. To use this press “accept”

Enter SSO credentials

Select “install”

VMware vSphere Web Client Upgrade

Lookup Service URL: https://vcenter_server(FQDN):7444/lookupservice/sdk

VMware vCenter Inventory Service

Earlier version is detected. Press “next”

Backup!

VMware vCenter Server Upgrade

Make sure you have a backup and all dependencies are checked. Highly recommend doing this during quite period. Although all the VM’s will be running during upgrade you loose the functionality like HA, DRS, VMotion. You can still log in to each ESXi host individually.

Choose upgrade existing vCenter Server database and tick I have taken a backup (once you have)

Select “automatic” and press “next”

Lookup Service URL: https://vcenter_server(FQDN):7444/lookupservice/sdk

VMware vSphere Client Upgrade

VMware vSphere Update Manager Upgrade

Earlier version detected. Select “OK” to upgrade (backup)

VMware vSphere Support tools – Dump Collector Upgrade

VMware vSphere Support tools – Syslog Collector Upgrade

VMware ESXi 5.1 upgrade

Host running on HP hardware so using iLO to remote in to upgrade the host. Attach .ISO and reboot host to get going (put host in maintenance mode before starting)!

Select “Upgrade ESXi, preserve VMFS datastore”

Warning message as I am using old hardware but we can still proceed with upgrade

Press “F11” to upgrade

When upgrade is done select “Enter” to reboot. Give the host time to boot up as it initializes. Do the same for all the remaining host. You can also utilize update manager by uploading the .ISO image and then upgrading the hosts.

Make sure you upgrade the VMware tools.  If you upgrade the virtual machine hardware to version 10 then you can’t modify any settings on the standalone client.  You will have to use the web client, so be careful.  Saying this in the next version everything will be moving towards the web client.  I found it more fluid on version 5.5.  Make sure you familiarize yourself with it as it’s here to stay.