VMWARE vcenter 5.5.0 39885 and need to update to 5.5.1c what is the best way ?

Yes, you can do with VUM directly to 5.5 Update 2 (Update 1 has broken NFS support)
Install client plugin of VUM and you have new tab where you can remediate machines.
Check vendor's VIBs in addition if you are upgrading customized image.

Insert the cdrom media or iso, and run the setup, it will update components...

make sure you have a backup before you start

are you sure , I thought you can never update vcenter with VUM?

but you can also just click on the ISO named VMWARE VIM  and the file named "vmware-vcserver.exe" ?

i am looking at the properties on this and see "product version 5.5.0.42156" this look like it is the whole 3GB install , this was downloaded by someone else , it this the right version ?

thanks

Ahh vcenter. No you need to install update package. Nothing to do with VUM

seems like pretty straightforward, I guess make a snapshot of the VCenter and just install next next next. I am trying to find the official instructions  but am having trouble ( slow internet )

thanks

Is DB on same machine? Snaphot running state then
Otherwise shut down server and snapshot with idle DB

DB is on a separate server , so shut down the SQL server and snap the Vcenter ?

should I snap the SQL as well?

thanks

No - shut down vcenter and make snapshot, and while vcenter vm is down make backup of SQL database.

(you must disable lockdown on hosts to connect directly)

got it 10-4 ,

shut down vcneter

connect to the host directly

snapshot vcenter

run a SQL backup on the SQL VCenter DB

thanks!!!

my boss is gooing to be asking for this documented , do you know of any doc that outlines this procedure?

thanks

Deep link into official documentation:
http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-55/index.jsp#com.vmware.vsphere.upgrade.doc/GUID-5F8E4BBA-508A-458C-B031-8FA896AAF1F3.html

thanks , so the upgrade and UPDATE are the same process?

Update would suffice, but for sake of management report create upgrade checklist and ksip the parts that dont apply for this first time.

Don't do a SNAPSHOT, it ,kills performance, and the Upgrade is SLOW!

Andrew , thanks but time is not an issue , but this is the only vcenter we have , how slow is slow ?

we have 48 hours to complete it

ok will do ! Andrew !

Gheist

thanks for that ,

if I do have to reinstall VCenter what do I loose , will I still have the VDS and storage ?

will I have to reattach all hosts ?

thanks again!!!!!