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ESX3i to ESX4i Update

2 min read #Virtualization #ESX3i #vSphere #Administration

Released with the new version on Thursday was a upgrade package from ESX3i to ESX4i

VMware ESXi Upgrade wizard Host Credentials step with red error that host must be in maintenance mode

VMware ESXi 4 download page with Installable CD ISO and upgrade ZIP options, upgrade ZIP highlighted

After you have downloaded the package – proceed to update your host.

The example below is a VM installed with latest build of ESX3i (158874)

vSphere Client Summary tab for an ESX 3i 3.5.0 evaluation host showing hardware, resources and config issues

Open the VMware vSphere Host Update Utility (this will not work with the VI 2.5 client – it must be the vSphere 4.0 version) and select the host you would like to upgrade

vSphere Host Update Utility host list with ESX 3i host selected and Upgrade button highlighted

Add the Upgrade file. The file is verified

File browser selecting ESXi-4.0.0 upgrade zip over the ESX Upgrade wizard Package Location step, Browse arrowed

Accept the EULA and enter Credentials

VMware ESXi Upgrade wizard Host Credentials step with host 10.63.30.77 and user name root

You will have to have put the host in Maintenance mode beforehand otherwise you will receive an error like this

VMware ESXi Upgrade wizard Host Credentials step with red error that host must be in maintenance mode

Compatibility checks are run – in my case this did not work the firs time round because the VM only had 1GB of Ram allocated so I got this. Duncan has written an informative post on the matter and how to manipulate the amount of RAM if you need to.

VMware ESXi Upgrade Host Compatibility Check error: host not compatible, Unknown test MEMORY_SIZE

So after adding additional RAM to the VM the compatibilty check passed

VMware ESXi Upgrade wizard Ready To Complete page showing ESXi 4.0 upgrade host and image path

And The Upgrade Process Begins

VMware vSphere Host Update Utility with three ESX 3.5 hosts listed, one upgrading at 0% in PreInstall subtask

vSphere Recent Tasks list showing completed host upgrade steps like Enter Maintenance Mode and Reboot Host by root

And after waiting a while the Host is updated with the new version of ESX

vSphere Host Update Utility showing an ESX host successfully upgraded to ESX 4.0.0 build-164009

ESXi console boot screen with VMware ESXi 4.0.0 Releasebuild-164009 highlighted, showing CPU and 2 GB memory info

vSphere Client Summary tab highlighting host build VMware ESX 4.0.0 164009 in maintenance mode

A few points to note:

  1. Do not close the Host Update Utility during the upgrade otherwise you will most probably mess up your host
  2. You of course need the minimum amount of memory (2GB) for the upgrade to run
  3. When the host comes back online it will be in evaluation mode – you will have to provide a license for it.(you have 60 days)
  4. Of course your host has to be in Maintenance Mode before you upgrade.

Happy Upgrading!