how to upgrade R81.20 to R82 VM management server

[saitoh]

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

[emmap · Accepted solution]

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.

[the_rock · Accepted solution]

Sounds right to me as well.

[saitoh]

Dear @the_rock , and @emmap ,

Much appreciated to your comments!

Saitoh

[Don_Paterson]

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-Requiremen... 

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. Export the management database. Copy all other configuration files, in which you made manual changes. Perform a Clean Install of the required version. Import the management database. Configure the required settings again based on the exported files.

[saitoh]

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

[the_rock]

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

[Bob_Zimmerman]

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.

[Amir_Senn]

100% what Bob wrote.

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

[the_rock]

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

[saitoh]

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