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:
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 |

You can use the GUI method or the CLI method to migrate your vCenter Server installation from Windows to an appliance.
You cannot change your deployment type during migration.