Importing ESX 5.0 Virtual Machines to ESX 6.5

[netlib]

I think I might be out of luck on this one.  I have an older ESX 5.0 machine with a number of VMs. It has been in use for many years.

I recently got a new Dell Precision Workstation and successfully installed ESX 6.5 and the VCenter 6.5 Appliance.

I then went to try to add the older ESX 5.0 host into the new VCenter 6.5 but received a popup that VCenter 6.5 is not compatible for ESX 5.0 hosts. WTH? Not upward compatible?! :smileyshocked:

I actually want to retire the old ESX 5.0 machine and import the VMs into the new 6.5 machine.  Is there any way to do this? There does not appear to be a way, but I'm hoping that someone here went through the same experience successfully.

Alternatively I am thinking of re-starting from scratch and installing ESX 5.5 and VCenter 5.5 on the new machine instead.  (Assuming VMWare still makes 5.5 available.)

Any suggestions on how to deal with a problem which I must assume many other people have?

[daphnissov]

The quickest way is probably going to be to upgrade your 5.0 host to 5.5. At that point, it can be managed by a vCenter 6.5, then you can migrate your VM over to a 6.5 host.

[a_p_]

If you cannot upgrade the current host, or run an earlier version on the new host (and vCenter), then it may be an option to test your backup, i.e. to restore the VMs from it on the new environment. Another option is https://www.virtuallyghetto.com/2012/06/how-to-copy-vms-directly-between-esxi.html.

André

[DylanEps]

Hello netlib!

You could export the desired VMs into .ovf format, and import then back in your new enviroment.

Export a Virtual Machine to OVF Format

Another option is to download the VM folder (including .vmdk, .vmx, etc) to a local disk, upload it to a datastore in your new environment, and register it browsing the .vmx.

[JinuV]

Remove the VM  from old VCenter using remove from inventory option  and register on new vcenter