A number of people have now asked me about the process for upgrading VMware App Volumes Managers.

In this blog I will document how to upgrade an App Volumes deployment from 2.5 to 2.6. It should also be noted that to avoid downtime you should have at least 2 App Volumes servers load-balanced in a pool. To find out how to load-balance App Volumes see my blog on the VMware web site Here.

This process will work if you do not have your App Volume servers load-balanced however during the process your desktops will not have access to the App Volumes server, meaning no AppStack or Writable will be attached at boot-up or login.

Before beginning the upgrade process make sure you back up the SQL database that App Volumes is using.

To upgrade the App Volumes servers follow the following process:

1. Remove the first App Volumes server from the Load-balanced pool.
2. Log in to the first App Volumes server
3. Click Start -> Control Panel
4. Click Uninstall Program
5. Highlight App Volumes Manager and Click Uninstall

6. Click Next when the uninstaller starts
7. Click Remove
8. Click Finish
9. Now run the Setup file for the new version of App Volumes, in this case 2.6
10. Click Next

11. Accept the License agreement and click Next

12. Select the App Volumes Manager and click Install

13. Click Next
14. It is very important at this stage to select Connect to an existing SQL Server Database and click Next

15. Select the correct SQL server. Configure the SQL log in information. Select the Database. DO NOT check the Overwite existing database check box then click Next

NOTE: If you do not add a Login ID then servers SYSTEM account will be used to connect to the database and App Volumes will probably fail to start.

16. Confirm the ports are correct and click Next

17. Confirm the install location and click Next

18. Click Install
19. Click Finish
20. Add the App Volumes server back in to the Load Balanced pool.
21. Follow these steps for any additional App Volumes servers.

Once the serevrs are updated you should now update the App Volumes Templates. To do this check out my blog post here