VM Hot migration from ESXi Host 5.5 to ESXi 6.5

[zhornsby]

i have a request to upgrade ESXi host that is currently a 2 host cluster. this cluster is managed via vCenter 6.5 and the hosts are currently running 5.5. i need to upgrade both host and the customer would like to not have any downtime during the upgrade if possible. my question is, can i load all VM's onto one host, upgrade from 5.5 to 6.5 then migrate all VM's off the 5.5 host to the 6.5 host without powering them down. will the vm hardware allow me to hot migrate a vm from a 5.5 host to a 6.5

[daphnissov]

If you're licensed for vMotion, if there's proper connectivity, and if there are no hardware or virtual hardware blockers, sure.

[zhornsby]

will i have to enable EVC mode?

[ashishsingh1508]

If they are migrating now under version 5.5 then NO

Anyways enabling EVC might require all the VMs to be powered off. But in this case you do not need it.

[daphnissov]

Do the hosts have the same CPU generations?

[zhornsby]

ya they currently migrate just fine and it will be on the same 2 host. they will just be upgraded from 5.5 to 6.5. i didnt know if the hardware capability would allow it. i know once the virtual hardware is upgraded i wont be able to migrate down to a host running 5.5

[yosingh]

Hi,

Please check what is the current hardware version.

I think below compatibility list can help you to understand the current supported VM h/w version for 5.5 to 6.5.

Virtual Machine Compatibility

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2007240