VMware provides supported paths for migrating from vCenter Server version 5.5 and version 6.0 installations on Windows to vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 installations.

You can migrate the following deployments:

Table 1. Supported vSphere Migration Paths

Source Configuration

Target Configuration

vCenter Server 5.5 with an embedded vCenter Single Sign-On instance on Windows

vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with an embedded Platform Services Controller appliance

vCenter Server 6.0 with an embedded Platform Services Controller instance on Windows

vCenter Single Sign-On 5.5 instance on Windows

External Platform Services Controller 6.5 appliance

Platform Services Controller 6.0 instance on Windows

vCenter Server 5.5 instance on Windows

vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with an external Platform Services Controller appliance

vCenter Server 6.0 instance on Windows

Figure 1. High-level Tasks for vCenter Server on Windows Migration to vCenter Server Appliance 6.5

You can use the GUI method or the CLI method to migrate your vCenter Server installation from Windows to an appliance.

Important:

You cannot change your deployment type during migration.