Can vCenter Server 5.1 manage ESX 5.0 hosts?

[hdoan53]

I have 3 ESXi 5.0 hosts with shared datastores being managed by vCenter Server 5.0.  Just upgraded one ESXi hosts to 5.1 but I can't connect it back to vCenter Server 5.0.  I plan to upgrade the other two hosts to 5.1 as soon as I can migrate the VMs to ESXi 5.1 host.

If I upgrade vCenter Server from 5.0 to 5.1, can vCenter Server 5.1 manage both ESXi 5.0 and 5.1 hosts?

If not, what is the best method to upgrade vCenter Server and retain the configurations?

Thanks,

Hien Doan

[a_p_]

Yes, vCenter Server 5.1 can manage ESXi 5.0 hosts. For a complete overview, see VMware Product Interoperability Matrix

André

[vmroyale]

You need vCenter to be upgraded first - vCenter 5.1 can manage older ESXi hosts, but not newer. Check the VMware Product Interoperability Matrixes for more info.

[TomHowarth]

Yes you can managed 5.0 hosts with a vCenter 5.1 instance,

Your issue was caused because you upgraded your host before you upgraded vCenter

[amyraghunath]

Just to be sure, I need to upgrade 2 of the 4 hosts in my environment to ESXi5.1.  You are saying that I need to upgrade vCenter to 5.1 first before upgrading the hosts?

[cjscol]

Yes, the correct upgrade order is

1. vCenter Server
2. vReplicator and/or SRM (if you are using them)
3. vCOPS (if you are using it)
4. ESXi hosts
5. VMware Tools within your guests

[amyraghunath]

Thank you