VMWare Upgrade 4 to 5

[cpjitservices]

Hi all,

 

I have VMware ESXI 4 running on my main server, however I need to upgrade to Server 2012 which wont run on version 4 thus leaving me no option but to upgrade ESXI to version 5.

 

My license for VMWare is listed as "Vmware vSphere 4 Standard".

 

Can I use this key to upgrade to version 5 with ?

 

I have kinda tested it an put 5 on a test machine and when I entered my key it told me that it would change to "Unlicensed", so this means it wont work ?

 

Sick of waiting for VMware to get back to me!

 

 

*PS I cant use VMware ESXI free as the hardware is above the requirements.*

 

 

Thanks in advance everyone!

[FN-GM]

You will need a new key, when i did my upgrades i did. If you dont have support you can't get one for no extra cost.

[cpjitservices]

Oh Dear. Thats not going to be cheap.

[FN-GM]

Keep the support up so you can spread out the cost

[cpjitservices]

Keep the support up so you can spread out the cost

 

We no longer have any support, that ran out about 6 months ago.

 

Problem is - Because the need to upgrade has suddenly been urged upon us... I hadnt bothered checking whether ESXI 4 would run 2012, My bad.

Edited August 1, 2013 by cpjitservices

[synaesthesia]

Do you need to use > 32GB ram? If not, why not use the free ESXi 5.1 for the time being instead.

[cpjitservices]

Well I wasnt going to use the free version because I thought it wouldnt support all of our CPU's, we have 2CPU's in the main system and they are both Quads.

 

24GB RAM so looks like I MIGHT be able to use the free version.

 

Could someone confirm ?

Edited August 1, 2013 by cpjitservices

[synaesthesia]

Yes. There is no CPU restriction on the free version, just RAM (32GB physical).

 

I'm running a pair of ESX 5.1 boxes with 32GB each and twin quad core processors.

[cpjitservices]

Excellent! I know what I'll be doing Friday night then!!

 

 

Thanks

[twin--turbo]

Excellent! I know what I'll be doing Friday night then!!

 

 

Thanks

 

It only takes 5 mins to install ESXi

[cpjitservices]

Yes, But I have to do it our of hours and we dont shut until 5.

[3s-gtech]

Same here - we have ESXi 5.1 free with 32GB of RAM and 2 quad core CPUs on a few servers, the only issues come with VM backup - Veeam won't work, for instance. We just ghettovcb it.

[synaesthesia]

What's the benefit of backing up at VM level? (Veeam etc) compared to any other backup method?

[pantscat]

What's the benefit of backing up at VM level? (Veeam etc) compared to any other backup method?

 

Makes restores really easy should you lose a VM completely - just restore the whole VM rather than rebuilding and restoring data.

[synaesthesia]

Ah, fair enough. We use veeam for one of the servers, wondered if it was really worth doing similar for the rest. Looking into SCCM DPM currently for other services.

[robjduk]

I would sacrifice sex for Veeam. A tear rolls down my eye every time I see mention of a school still using Symantec products.

[glennda]

I would sacrifice sex for Veeam. A tear rolls down my eye every time I see mention of a school still using Symantec products.

 

Not quite that much but I do like veeam... until it goes wrong then its a nightmare!! With regards to the upgrade as your support was valid when 5.1 came out you may still be able to upgrade to that version. Login to VMware look at license keys and look for the drop down shown here

[cpjitservices]

Thanks, Ive looked at that but I dont actually have the "I want to" bit.

[cpjitservices]

Just a quick update everyone, I inserted the vmware 5 upgrade disc into my server.... received an error on screen saying boot failed, burnt new disk - same error, tried USB DVD Drive - same error! Tried disc in another server and it booted from the disc fine!! This was at 5:15pm - left it and went home.