Minor Vs Major upgrades

[Jimmy15]

Hi,

Can you suggest how do VMware consider an upgrade between the releases as Minor or Major...What are the key considerations and any supporting documentation available?

e.g. vSphere 6.0 --> 6.5

vSphere 6.5 --> 6.7

vSphere 6.0 --> 6.7

vSphere 6.x --> 7.x

I understand version number doesn't play role in this decission but enhancements and newly introduces features do.

Regards

[vbondzio]

Despite somewhat clashing with versioning standards, dot Y releases (X.Y.Z) are considered major (for all intents and purposes), in the past they came off the main branch. Upgrades are in between major releases, updates are within one. Every example you listed are major version changes / upgrades.

[a_p_]

Major releases are usually 5.x, 6.x, 7.x, but there are exceptions like 5.1 to 5.5 which is a major release.
For the official statements see e.g. https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2149713 and https://www.vmware.com/support/policies/upgrade.html

André

[vbondzio]

I should have better highlighted the "are considered major (for all intents and purposes)" parts. Yes, André is technically correct (the best kind of correct), you are still looking at upgrades, not updates, between those releases.

[Jimmy15]

Thanks Andre,

As per versioning system of X.Y

Change of X digit considered as Major, if Y changes then Minor
on the other hand in VMware product release prospective 6.0 to 6.5 to 6.7 were milestones and not just some feature enhancement or bug fixes.

so switching from left to right should come under in Major Upgrade category. but there is no supporting document...

Regards

[Jimmy15]

Thanks vbondzio,
since no document available, will raising SR with VMware help?

regards

[vbondzio]

> since no document available, will raising SR with VMware help?

No, what exactly is your break / fix concern here / is the problem you are trying to solve? That the verbiage could be more concrete across different abstractions? 

[karl495]

If you're conscious with the features being released you may want to refer with the version together with the release notes for changes and updates.

Personally, I would consider the following

-recommended security patches 

-end of general support

-fix of certain bugs or issues 

-Additional features you may want to adopt