topic Re: how to upgrade R81.20 to R82 VM management server in Firewall and Security Management

how to upgrade R81.20 to R82 VM management server

saitoh — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 10:13:40 GMT

Hi engineers,

I saw the recommended guest OS version changes from RHEL7(R81.20) to 8(R82), and am wondering how to switch it.

VMware ESXi hosts my VMs.

I think of the step-by-step procedure below:

1. turn off VM after upgrading.

2. switch guest OS to RHEL8

3. power VM and check the status.

Is this a supported way to do so?

Since it is hard to make sure everything is alright after upgrading, I would be appreciating it if there is a supported way by CheckPoint, written in SK if possible.

As a side note, CPUSE upgrade is only option due to several reasons, mainly paperwork affairs.

Thanks in advance.

Saitoh

Re: how to upgrade R81.20 to R82 VM management server

emmap — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 12:23:42 GMT

Your procedure is good, shutting down the VM and changing the setting after the upgrade will work. I think probably most of the time no one changes that and it doesn't cause problems, but if you are going to do it then that way is good.

Re: how to upgrade R81.20 to R82 VM management server

the_rock — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 13:18:55 GMT

Sounds right to me as well.

Re: how to upgrade R81.20 to R82 VM management server

saitoh — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 07:40:35 GMT

Dear @the_rock , and @emmap ,

Much appreciated to your comments!

Saitoh

Re: how to upgrade R81.20 to R82 VM management server

Don_Paterson — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 07:53:30 GMT

Just be aware that only one upgrade is allowed (supported) in VMs, as per the release notes.

https://sc1.checkpoint.com/documents/R82/WebAdminGuides/EN/CP_R82_RN/Content/Topics-RN/HW-Requirements-Open-Server-VM.htm?tocpath=Hardware%20Requirements%20for%20Open%20Server%20%252F%20Virtual%20Machine%20in%20R82%7C_____0#Hardware_Requirements_for_Open_Server___Virtual_Machine_in_R82

Notes:

On an Open Server / Virtual Machine that runs a Management Server / Log Server , only one upgrade is allowed.

To upgrade again, use an Advanced Upgrade (with Clean Install) or an Upgrade with Migration - see Supported Upgrade Methods in R82.
1. Export the management database.
2. Copy all other configuration files, in which you made manual changes.
3. Perform a Clean Install of the required version.
4. Import the management database.
5. Configure the required settings again based on the exported files.

Re: how to upgrade R81.20 to R82 VM management server

saitoh — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 09:23:20 GMT

Hi @Don_Paterson ,

I actually did not know this.

Without your help, I would have worst time when getting on upgrading at our customer's site.

You saved my life!!

Saitoh

Re: how to upgrade R81.20 to R82 VM management server

the_rock — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 11:31:25 GMT

Yea, Don made an excellent point, something to keep in mind, for sure.

Re: how to upgrade R81.20 to R82 VM management server

Bob_Zimmerman — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 14:34:16 GMT

Note that the guest OS setting in hypervisors is really just a preset for the hardware configuration. That is, when building a new VM, it sets how many cores, how much RAM, which boot ROM the new VM is set to use, and so on. It doesn't change anything about how the VM runs.

Re: how to upgrade R81.20 to R82 VM management server

Amir_Senn — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 12:46:37 GMT

100% what Bob wrote.

After creating the VM there's no reason to touch this at all.

Re: how to upgrade R81.20 to R82 VM management server

the_rock — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 12:54:56 GMT

I always find doing migrate export and then import on brand new server works real well.

Re: how to upgrade R81.20 to R82 VM management server

saitoh — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 00:52:31 GMT

I am not familiar with VMs, and was wondering to what a Guest OS choice make difference.

Is it like, the options of hardware settings (such as the type of vNICs) are given based on Guest OS, and

it does not actually matter since Guest OS does not change hardware settings?

Saitoh