VMware vCenter Server 5.1 Update 1 and ESXi 5.1 Update 1 Released

April 25th, VMware released vCenter Server 5.1 Update 1 and ESXi 5.1 Update 1. This release offers the following improvements:

1. vCenter Server is now supported on Windows Server 2012
2. Additional vCenter Server Database Support:
   Microsoft SQL Server 2012
   Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 SP2
3. Additional Guest Operating System Customization Support:
   Windows 8
   Windows Server 2012
   Ubuntu12.04
   RHEL 5.9
4. Resolved Issues: This release delivers a number of bug fixes that have been documented in the Resolved Issues section in release notes.

All new vSphere features are available only through the vSphere Web Client.  vSphere Client will continue to operate,  but not exposing any of the new features in vSphere 5.1. vSphere 5.1 and its subsequent update and patch releases are the last releases to include the traditional vSphere Client. Future major releases of VMware vSphere will include only the vSphere Web Client.

Quick Upgrade Instructions

For single VM vCenter Server

1. Mount ISO
2. Select the component you want to upgrade (“Simple Install” method does not work for upgrade)
3. Installer will upgrade binaries to Update 1

For vCenter Appliance

1. Login to vCenter appliance with https://<FQDN or IP Address>:5480/
2. Select Update tab
3. Select Check Updates
4. Select Install Updates

or

1. Download the updater disk image for build 1065184
2. Mount disk image to vCenter appliance VM
3. Goto Updates
4. Under Settings select “Use CDROM Updates”
5. Save Settings
6. Select Status
7. Select Check Updates
8. Select Install Updates

VMware vCenter Server 5.1 Update 1 Release Notes here

VMware ESXi 5.1 Update 1  Release Notes here

Download VMware vCenter Server 5.1 Update 1 here