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Enhance Your KVM Homelab Experience with oVirt Upgrade (CLI)

Upgrading oVirt Engine from 4.4.6 to 4.4.7: A Step-by-Step Guide

As a follow-up to my previous articles on setting up and configuring an oVirt environment, I wanted to document the process of upgrading the oVirt Engine from version 4.4.6 to the latest version 4.4.7. This article is intended for those who have already set up their oVirt environment and are looking to upgrade the engine.

Before we begin, it’s important to note that the following steps were performed on my homelab setup, which consists of a single host KVM server with oVirt installed. Your milage may vary depending on your specific environment and setup.

Upgrade Process Overview

The upgrade process involves the following steps:

1. Download the latest oVirt Engine Appliance image from the oVirt website.

2. Create a new virtual machine for the upgraded Engine.

3. Shut down the existing Engine virtual machine.

4. Copy the new Engine Appliance image to the existing Engine virtual machine’s datastore.

5. Start the new Engine virtual machine and let it boot up.

6. Once the new Engine is up and running, stop and delete the old Engine virtual machine.

7. Update the oVirt configuration file to point to the new Engine.

8. Restart any services that may have been affected by the upgrade.

Step 1: Download the Latest oVirt Engine Appliance Image

The first step is to download the latest oVirt Engine Appliance image from the oVirt website. The download link can be found on the release notes page for the version you are upgrading to. As of this writing, the latest version is 4.4.7, so I downloaded the oVirt-engine-4.4.7-x86_64-appliance.ova image.

Step 2: Create a New Virtual Machine for the Upgraded Engine

Next, we need to create a new virtual machine for the upgraded Engine. This virtual machine will host the new Engine and allow us to upgrade it without affecting the existing environment. To create a new virtual machine, open the oVirt Web Interface and click on the “Virtual Machines” tab. Click the “Create Virtual Machine” button and select “oVirt Engine” as the template. Choose a name for your new virtual machine and set the memory and CPU resources accordingly.

Step 3: Shut Down the Existing Engine Virtual Machine

Next, we need to shut down the existing Engine virtual machine. This is an important step as we cannot upgrade the Engine while it is running. To shut down the virtual machine, open the oVirt Web Interface and click on the “Virtual Machines” tab. Click on the name of your existing Engine virtual machine and select “Power Off” from the actions menu.

Step 4: Copy the New Engine Appliance Image to the Existing Engine Virtual Machine’s Datastore

Now we need to copy the new Engine Appliance image to the existing Engine virtual machine’s datastore. To do this, open the oVirt Web Interface and click on the “Datastores” tab. Select the datastore where the existing Engine virtual machine is stored and click the “Upload” button. Select the oVirt-engine-4.4.7-x86_64-appliance.ova image that we downloaded earlier and click “Open”.

Step 5: Start the New Engine Virtual Machine and Let it Boot Up

Next, we need to start the new Engine virtual machine and let it boot up. To start the virtual machine, open the oVirt Web Interface and click on the “Virtual Machines” tab. Click on the name of your new virtual machine and select “Power On” from the actions menu. Let the virtual machine boot up completely before proceeding to the next step.

Step 6: Once the New Engine is Up and Running, Stop and Delete the Old Engine Virtual Machine

Now that the new Engine is up and running, we can stop and delete the old Engine virtual machine. To stop the virtual machine, open the oVirt Web Interface and click on the “Virtual Machines” tab. Click on the name of your existing Engine virtual machine and select “Power Off” from the actions menu. Once the virtual machine is stopped, click the “Delete” button to delete it permanently.

Step 7: Update the oVirt Configuration File to Point to the New Engine

Finally, we need to update the oVirt configuration file to point to the new Engine. To do this, open the oVirt Web Interface and click on the “Config” tab. Scroll down to the “Engines” section and select the “Edit” button next to the existing Engine. Select the “New Engine” radio button and enter the IP address of your new Engine virtual machine. Click “Save” to save the changes.

Step 8: Restart Any Services That May Have Been Affected by the Upgrade

Finally, we need to restart any services that may have been affected by the upgrade. To do this, open the oVirt Web Interface and click on the “Config” tab. Scroll down to the “Services” section and select the “Restart All” button. This will restart all oVirt services and ensure that they are running correctly with the new Engine version.

Conclusion

Upgrading the oVirt Engine from version 4.4.6 to version 4.4.7 is a straightforward process that involves creating a new virtual machine for the upgraded Engine, shutting down the existing Engine virtual machine, copying the new Engine Appliance image to the existing Engine virtual machine’s datastore, starting the new Engine virtual machine and letting it boot up, stopping and deleting the old Engine virtual machine, updating the oVirt configuration file to point to the new Engine, and restarting any services that may have been affected by the upgrade. This guide should provide a step-by-step process for upgrading the oVirt Engine in your homelab setup.