Downgrade ESX 4 update 2 to update 1 or Fresh Install?

[dkraut]

I've seen this type of question asked, but have not seen a "definite" answer. Can ESX 4 be downgraded to a lesser version or does it need to be reinstalled? If you're wondering why... Let's assume that I have an ESX 4 Update 2 server that is having trouble. The HCL only officially supports my SAN hardware up to ESX 4 Update 1 so vmware technical support is telling me to get all servers to ESX 4 Update 1. Seems to me that Update 2 would be better than Update 1, but who am I to argue?

[weinstein5]

To go back you will have to do a fresh install -

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[a_p_]

I've seen this type of question asked, but have not seen a "definite" answer.

I don't know of any documentation about the option to downgrade ESX. That's probably why there is no "definite" answer.

Can ESX 4 be downgraded to a lesser version or does it need to be reinstalled?

A reinstall would be the safest and probably also the only supported option. In this case you should consider to install ESXi instead of ESX. This way you would be prepared for future updates.

If you're wondering why... Let's assume that I have an ESX 4 Update 2 server that is having trouble. The HCL only officially supports my SAN hardware up to ESX 4 Update 1 so vmware technical support is telling me to get all servers to ESX 4 Update 1.

Fire the guy who updated the hosts, without checking the HCL

Seems to me that Update 2 would be better than Update 1, but who am I to argue?

There are definitely some fixes which make U2 (or newer) better than U1, however that would not help in the above scenario.

André

[LucianoPatrão]

Hi

I don't like even to update a VMware ESX host. If i can and have a good environment I always do a fresh install.

For downgrade, of course you need a fresh install.

Can we understand why you need a downgrade?

JailBreak

IT Network Manager

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Thank You

[dkraut]

Thanks All, unfortunately we need to downgrade since the HCL does not officially support anything higher than "ESX 4 Update 1" on the HCL for the DS4200 SAN. ESXi is also not listed on the HCL for the DS4200 so that's not an option. That puts us kinda between a rock and a hard place since the "Disk Trashing" issue we appear to be having looks to be resolved in ESX 4.0 Update 2. I guess rebuilding from scratch won't be so bad since only a single server is at Update 2 and because all Hosts are managed by vCenter. The rest of the Hosts will need to upgraded from 4.0 to 4.0 Update 1, which I started last night. This whole HCL thing is a bit troublesome since we're looking to move to new IBM x3650 M3 servers attached to a N6000 series SAN. Although the x3650's list support for both ESX and ESXi 4.1, The IBM N Series 6000 does not show support for any flavor of ESXi ? In fact, ESXi is not even a search option for SAN.

Any thoughts on why "ESXi" is completely omitted from the "Product Release Versions" Filter of SAN products? >

http://tinyurl.com/288w5nn

[LucianoPatrão]

Hi

Yes i understand, i had the same issues in the past.

But unfortunately you need to do a fresh install.

JailBreak

IT Network Manager

If helpful Please award points

Thank You