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eversys
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Migrate from a VMware 5.0 to 5.5 Host

We would like to move our current VMs running on a VMWare ESXi Host 5.0.0 (504890) to a newly installed Host 5.5 (latest version). To manage the current Host and VMs we use vSphere and not vCenter or vMotion. Is it a simply matter of shutting the VMs down, copying them over to the new Host/Datastore and adding them to the inventory?

Thanks for your feedback.

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nigeltatschner
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Pretty much,

Once they are over to the new server you will have the option to upgrade their hardware version.... But make sure you check compatibility with the Guest OS.

Nigel

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nigeltatschner
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Pretty much,

Once they are over to the new server you will have the option to upgrade their hardware version.... But make sure you check compatibility with the Guest OS.

Nigel

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eversys
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We have a mixture of the following OSs:

  • Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard (64-bit)
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard (64-bit)
  • Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard (64-bit)
  • Windows 7 Pro (64-bit)
  • Windows XP Pro (32-bit)

Is it best practice to upgrade the VMs hardware version? Do you know from the above list which OSs we should not upgrade.

Thanks again

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mjha
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Before upgrading the hardware version please check the compatibility matrix for guest o.s that what is the latest hardware version these guest o.s can support.

Please consider marking this answer "correct" or "helpful" if you think your query have been answered correctly. Manish Jha | Operations Support Engineer | vCloud Air Operations vExpert 2015-17 | vExpert-NSX | vExpert-Cloud | VCAP6-DCV | VCP6-DCV | RHCE-7 Website : http://vstellar.com
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nigeltatschner
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Also bare in mind that anything from hardware version 10 can only be properly edited from the vCenter web interface.

Compatibility for OS vs Hardware Versions can be found here

http://partnerweb.vmware.com/comp_guide2/pdf/VMware_GOS_Compatibility_Guide.pdf

pratjain
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It is recommended to upgrade the hardware version to the latest version . Also running on a hardware version determines the virtual hardware settings that would be available to the VM .

AFAIK there is no compatibility b/w the hardware version and the OS version running on the VM.

P.S. - I have upgraded the hardware version to 10 on a WS2003 R2 SP2 in my lab it works fine.

Also the limitation of editing vmx10 VM's using the webclient has been removed.You can upgrade the vSphere Client to 5.5 Update 2 and you can edit the VM settings.


Check William Lam blog - http://www.virtuallyghetto.com/2014/09/edit-virtual-hardware-10-vms-using-vsphere-5-5-update-2-c-cli...

Regards, PJ If you find this or any other answer useful please mark the answer as correct or helpful.
eversys
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Thanks for the feedback.

If we upgrade to the latest hardware version, and theOS is not supported, when the VM boots would it blue screen or how would I know it has problems?

Thanks

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pratjain
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Ideally you should not face any issues but if you do either the VM would not boot or it would BSOD.

Take a snapshot of the VM or backup the VMX of the VM before upgrading the hardware version.

You can use downgrade the hardware version as per the steps in KB http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1028019.

Regards, PJ If you find this or any other answer useful please mark the answer as correct or helpful.
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