PowerEdge: How to Upgrade vCenter Server Appliance 7.0 U1a to 7.0 U2b From the vCenter Server Appliance Management Interface

Goal:
Upgrade vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA) from version 7.0 U1a to 7.0 U2b from the vCenter Server Appliance Management Interface (VAMI).

Facts:
vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA)
vCenter Server Appliance Management Interface (VAMI)

Procedure:

• Perform the vCenter Server Upgrade in a maintenance window.
• Validate the vCenter Server Appliance does not have any alert and it is healthy.

Steps:

1. Download the ISO for the target version from the Download Center.
2. Upload the ISO image to a Datastore that is visible for the vCenter Server Appliance.
3. Attached the ISO image to the vCenter Server Appliance by following the next steps:
   1. Connect to the ESXi host that is hosting the vCenter Server Appliance.
      http://ESXi_FQDN_or_ESXi_IP_Address
   2. Log In using the root account and password.
   3. Go to the Virtual Machines and search for the vCenter Server Appliance to upgrade.
   4. Right-click the vCenter Server Appliance VM and select Edit Settings
   5. Go to the CD/DVD Drive and in the VD/DVD Media select Browse for the Datastore where the ISO image is and select it.
      
      Figure 1: Datastore with ISO Image
   6. Select the option Connect at the right of the Datastore ISO file and click Save.
      
      Figure 2: Connect to Datastore ISO and Save.
4. Log in to the VAMI:
   1. https://vCSA_FQDN_or_vCSA_IP_Address: 5480
   2. Use the root account and password. 
   3. Go to the Summary tab on the left and check the Health Status of the components on the right.
      
      Figure 3: Summary Health Status
   4. Go to the Services tab on the left to validate all Services are running before the update.
      
      Figure 4: Services Validate
   5. Go to the Update tab to load the ISO image and the Check Updates option select Check CD ROM.
      
      Figure 5 Update Check CD ROM.
   6. Once the ISO image is recognized, click the RUN PRE-UPDATE CHECKS to validate nothing prevents the update on the vCenter Server Appliance or resolve any issues that are found before the update.
      
      Figure 6: RUN PRE-UPDATE CHECKS
   7. Once completed, check the Pre-update Check status.
      
      Figure 7: Pre-update Check status.
   8. Check the current vCenter Server Appliance version before to initiating the update.
      
      Figure 8: Current Version
   9. Initiate the update by selecting Stage and Install option.
      
      Figure 9: Stage and Install
   10. The Stage and Install Wizard appears. Accept the End-user license agreement and click Next.
       
       Figure 10: End-user license agreement
   11. The Pre-update checks is running.
       
       Figure 11: Running Pre-update Checks
   12. Provide the Single Sign On Administrator password and click Next.
       
       Figure 12: Single Sign On password.
   13. Back up the vCenter Server Appliance if not previously done.
   14. If the vCenter Appliance is backed up, then select the option I have Backed up the vCenter Server and its associated databases and click Finish.
       
       Figure 13: Finish
   15. The installation process is in progress.
       
       Figure 14: Installation Progress
   16. Monitor the update progress.
       
       Figure 15: Monitor Progress.
   17. Click Close in the Installation complete window.
       
       Figure 16: Installation complete
   18. Validate the current vCenter Server Appliance version is the target version vCSA 7.0 U2b.
       
       Figure 17: Validate New Version
   19. Go to Services Tab in the left pane and validate the services have all started after the update.
       
       Figure 18: Validate Services are Started.
   20. Open a session into the vSphere UI by using the Single Sign On Administrator Account and validate the vCenter Server version.
       
       Figure 19: Single Sign On Server Version.
       vCenter Server Appliance update to version 7.0 U2b is complete.