VMware provides many options to upgrade to vCenter Server 7.0.

You can upgrade or migrate your vCenter Server version 6.5 or version 6.7 installation to version 7.0 .

Figure 1. Overview of vCenter Server Upgrade Tasks
Overview of vCenter Server upgrade tasks.

High-level steps for upgrading or migrating vCenter Server:

  1. Select your upgrade goal.
  2. Verify that your system meets the hardware and software requirements.
  3. Prepare your environment for the upgrade or migration.
  4. Upgrade or migrate your vCenter Server for Windows or vCenter Server appliance deployment.
  5. Finish any required post-upgrade or post-migration tasks.

Concurrent upgrades are not supported and upgrade order matters. For information on the order in which to upgrade transitional environments, see Example Upgrade Paths from vCenter Server 6.5 and 6.7 to vCenter Server 7.0.

vCenter Server Supported Upgrade Methods

Graphical User Interface (GUI) Installer
The GUI installer provides a two-step upgrade method using an OVA file that you deploy, and the vCenter Server appliance Management GUI. The first step deploys vCenter Server appliance as an OVA file. The second step uses the vCenter Server Management GUI to configure the new appliance using the source deployment data.
Command Line Interface (CLI) Installer
The CLI installer provides advanced users with a CLI method for upgrading the vCenter Server appliance or migrating vCenter Server for Windows to an appliance. You can upgrade or migrate to a vCenter Server appliance using customized CLI templates.
Migration Assistant Interface for Migrating vCenter Server for Windows to vCenter Server appliance
When you migrate a legacy Platform Services Controller or vCenter Server for Windows to an appliance using the Migration Assistant interface. You can use either the GUI method or the CLI method to migrate the legacy Windows installation data to a target appliance. See Overview of Migration from vCenter Server on Windows to vCenter Server Appliance.
Deprecated vCenter Server Deployment Models
When upgrading or migrating from deprecated deployment models, you must first migrate your deployment to a currently supported deployment model before attempting to upgrade or migrate it to a vCenter Server 7.0 deployment. For more information, see Moving from a Deprecated to a Supported vCenter Server Deployment Topology Before Upgrade or Migration
Patching and Updating vCenter Server
A patch or update brings the vCenter Server 7.0 software up to the current, minor version. You can use the patching process to make minor upgrades to your 7.0 deployment. See Differences Between vSphere Upgrades, Patches, Updates, and Migrations and Patching and Updating vCenter Server 7.0 Deployments.