Is allow mix ESXi version in environment 6.0 and 6.5

[machiasiaweb]

Hello,

Existing I have 2 HV running with ESXi 6.0.  Now, I am planing to setup another new HV and install ESXi 6.5 there.

Question:

Q. Is it allow to same datacenter with different ESXi version?  They will have share storage pool as well.

Q.  Is it allow to do live migration of VM which from ESXi 6.0 to 6.5?  If cannot. Offline is support?

Q. How about reverse migration of VM from 6.5 to 6.0?

Thanks!

[bayupw]

Haven't try or found any documentation on vSphere 6.5

But 4.x to 5.x support mix ESXi version so 6.0 & 6.5 most likely will work

Back in ESX/i 4.x, you can vMotion from 4.x host to new 5.5 hosts as long as they have same CPU Series, the procedures are described here:vSphere 5.5 Documentation Center-Moving Virtual Machines Using vMotion During an Upgrade

But the CPU must be compatible, you can use this to check the CPU Series: http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php?deviceCategory=cpu

On production, typically VMware recommends not to mix ESXi on a same cluster.

So if they are on different cluster or maybe standalone ESXi host, it should be fine.

An old blog post explaining Mixing ESX/ESXi Versions in an HA/DRS Cluster - VMware vSphere Blog

If they are different CPU Series, you can only perform Cold Migration (requires downtime) VMware vSphere 6.5 Documentation Library-Cold Migration‌

Reverse should be the same.

If you have vCenter Server, make sure you upgrade the vCenter Server first before the ESXi.

Taken from VMware Product Interoperability Matrixes ‌vCenter 6.5 is compatible with ESXi 6.0 but not the other way

[vXav]

Q. Is it allow to same datacenter with different ESXi version?  They will have share storage pool as well.

• A. It is supported but you need to upgrade your vCenter to 6.5 before or you won't be able to add the ESXi 6.5 to it.
• A. Check that the third part product that you use are supported with vCenter/vSphere 6.5 (Veeam, Commvault ...).

Q.  Is it allow to do live migration of VM which from ESXi 6.0 to 6.5?  If cannot. Offline is support?

• A. If the hosts are managed by the same v6.5 vCenter you can.

Q. How about reverse migration of VM from 6.5 to 6.0?

• A. You can vMotion a VM from a 6.5 host to a 6.0 if the virtual hardware of the VM is at version 11 or lower.
  • If you create a VM on the 6.5 ESXi host, you need to specify the VM compatibility version to 11 (not default).
  • Easier solution is to edit your cluster's settings in "Configuration" > "General" > "Default VM compatibility" and set the default compatible version to "ESXi 6.0 and later"
• If you vMotion a VM from a 6.0 host to a 6.5, don't upgrade the VM compatibility to 12. Upgrading the VMware tools is safe though.

[machiasiaweb]

Thanks all reply.

Just upgraded vCenter to 6.5.   Quick check is it there are no more vShpere Client for Windows now?

Which require using Flash or HTML5 to access?

Thanks!

[vXav]

No, the "thick" client has been killed in 6.5.

The flash client is a bit improved though, the menus make more sense.

The HTML 5 client is (in my opinion) useless at the moment as most of the feature are unavailable.