Upgrading or Reinstalling VMware Components
Refer to VMware documentation for complete information regarding installation and upgrading of VMware products prior to installation or upgrade.
Verify that your version of Zerto Virtual Replication supports the new VMware version before beginning the installation or upgrade.
Refer to the
Zerto Virtual Replication Interoperability Matrix for the list of VMware environments supported by this version of Zerto Virtual Replication.
Upgrading a vCenter Server
Zerto recommends that you upgrade a vCenter Server rather than reinstalling it.
When upgrading both vCenter and an ESX/ESXi, upgrade the vCenter first.
Zerto Virtual Replication components are not affected by a vCenter Server upgrade; protection continues and no additional procedures are required. When upgrading a vCenter Server, make sure that you preserve the vCenter database. Preserving the existing database is required in order to continue using the existing Zerto Virtual Replication installation.
Note: If the vCenter Server service is stopped, a Zerto Virtual Replication delta sync is performed on all protected virtual machines when the vCenter Server is restarted.
Reinstalling a vCenter Server
If, for whatever reason, you need to reinstall the vCenter Server, including rebuilding the database, contact Zerto support for help throughout the reinstallation.
Upgrading or Reinstalling a Host
When upgrading both vCenter and an ESX/ESXi, upgrade the vCenter first.
When upgrading, including applying patches, or reinstalling a host with an active VRA, change the recovery host of every virtual machine in every VPG that recovers to this host, to avoid a Delta Sync after the host has been upgraded and the VRA started up. Then upgrade the host. You can move the virtual machines to a different host from within the Zerto User Interface, as described below, or by using cmdlets, as described in Zerto Virtual Replication PowerShell Cmdlets Guide.
To change a VRA host:
1. In the Zerto User Interface, click SETUP > VRAs, select the VRA, and click MORE > Change VM Recovery VRA.
The Change Target Host dialog is displayed, listing all the virtual machines on that host.
2. Review the list and select the virtual machines whose target host you are changing.
3. Select the new target host for these virtual machines in the Select the replacement host drop-down list. You can move some virtual machines to one replacement target host and, by repeating the operation, move other virtual machines to a different replacement target host.
■ Validation is performed to verify that the selected target host can be used. For example, the datastores used by the VRAs must be accessible from both hosts.
■ The dialog displays the possible consequences resulting from the change.
4. Click OK.
5. Repeat this procedure from step
2 for all the virtual machines.
The VPG recovery host definitions are changed and the affected recovery data for each VRA is transferred to the new recovery host VRA. During the change procedure you cannot edit the affected VPGs, nor attempt a failover, move, failover test, or clone operation.
VRAs installed on ESXi 4.x and 5.x hosts require a password to access the host. If the host password changes, as happens when the host is upgraded, the VRA must be updated with the new password, as described in Zerto Virtual Manager Administration Guide for the VMware vSphere Environment.
To change the host password required by a VRA:
1. In the Zerto User Interface, click SETUP > VRAs, select the VRA, and click MORE > Change Host Password.
The Change Host Password VRA dialog is displayed.
2. Enter the new host root password:
New Password – Enter the new password.
3. Click Save.
Note: A procedure to change the passwords for more than one host at one time is described in the Zerto Virtual Manager Administration Guide for the VMware vSphere Environment.
Upgrading VMware Tools
You do not need to upgrade VMware Tools on a VRA.
Upgrading vCloud Director
Zerto recommends that you upgrade vCD rather than reinstalling it. Zerto Virtual Replication components are not affected, protection continues, and no additional procedures are required.
When upgrading vCD from version 1.5 to 5.1 or higher, you must change the storage profile for each protected virtual machine from * (any) to a valid storage profile to use for that virtual machine. Contact Zerto support for help with the upgrade of VPGs.
If, for whatever reason, you need to reinstall vCloud Director, contact Zerto support for help throughout the reinstallation.