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.