Before you upgrade a vCenter Server instance, you should use the vCenter Server Management Interface to manually back it up.

Prerequisites

  • In the vSphere Client, for each vSphere cluster that is managed by the vCenter Server, note the current vSphere DRS Automation Level setting and then change the setting to Manual. After the vCenter Server upgrade is complete, you can change the vSphere DRS Automation Level setting back to its original value. See KB 87631 for information about using VMware PowerCLI to change the vSphere DRS Automation Level.
  • Ensure that there are not any active vMotion tasks.

Procedure

  1. In a web browser, log in to the vCenter Server Management Interface (https://appliance-IP-address-or-FQDN:5480).
  2. In the left navigation pane, click Backup.
  3. Click Backup Now.
  4. If you already have a backup schedule set up, select Use backup location and user name from backup schedule and click Start.
  5. If you do not already have a backup schedule, enter the following information and click Start.

    Setting

    Value

    Backup location

    Enter the backup location from SFTP server.

    For example: sftp://172.16.11.60/backups/

    Backup server credentials

    User name

    A service account with privileges to the SFTP server.

    For example: svc-vcf-bck.

    Password

    Enter the password for the username provided.

    Encrypt backup

    Encryption password

    encryption_password

    Confirm password

    encryption_password

    Data

    Stats, events, and tasks

    Selected

    Inventory and configuration

    Selected

What to do next

In order to restore vCenter Server, you will need the VMware vCenter Server Appliance ISO file that matches the version you backed up.
  • Identify the required vCenter Server version. In the vCenter Server Management Interface, click Summary in the left navigation pane to see the vCenter Server version and build number.
  • Download the VMware vCenter Server Appliance ISO file for that version from VMware Customer Connect.