Upgrade ESXi pre-check

[adam900331_1]

Hy!

I am planning to upgrade some ESXi host from 6.7 tuo 7.0u3.

I checked this document:

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/com.vmware.esxi.upgrade.doc/GUID-C8D42584-C272-4CA3-95...

I have questions about 1. and 2. section:

How can I check if is there any vSphere plugin installed on ESXi? Can I list it somwhow?

Firstly, I would like to check if the hosts (hardware) is compatible with 7.0u3. How can I do it? Can I use this website?

https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php

What do I have to if the servers include some additional hardware device, like HBA, FC card, RAID controller etc?

How can I collect all of the hardware name whic is in the host? Can I list it somehow?

Thanks.

[maksym007]

In case you want to check HW compatibility - check the server vendor webpage.  With your serial number, you will find server model and if ESXi 7 or 8 is compatible. They are always providing such Info. 

Specify which plugins you are talking about. Often plugins are installed on vCenter not directly on ESXi. 

In vCenter, there is a dedicated section called - "plugins" you will find it there. 

Regarding RAID Ctrl, HBA, LAN Cards in Monitoring - Hardware Health - you will find and Serial Number or Driver version or even a firmware version. Additionally, you will be able to list via esxcli commands. 

[adam900331_1]

Thanks! What about the VMware Tools and VM Hardware versions after the upgrade? Do I have to upgrade both? I think the VMware tools upgrade is suggested task, but the VM hardware doesn't need if I don't want to use new features.

What is the best practise for the VMware Tools and VM Hardware upgrade process? Is it safety? Do I have to check something before upgrade, like application compatibility inside the guest OS?

Thanks.

[Kinnison]

Hi,

From my point of view it depends a lot, I tend to update the VMware Tools to the most recent version available, but I always make sure I have valid backups and/or a snapshot, in case things go wrong, and I also tend to update the hardware compatibility level, always after taking adequate precautions. Usually with recent guest operating systems it is infrequent to run into problems but they cannot be excluded on principle or bias, and inRedgrads, some cases, for example certain VMware products upgrading the compatibility level of the hardware (or upgrading the VMware tools) is absolutely not supported.

Regards,
Ferdinando

[adam900331_1]

Hy!

How can I check if there is an application on the guest will be compatible with the new VM hardware version? Is there such a thing?

[RajeevVCP4]

You are almost on correct link for hardware compatibility you need to check with hardware vendor or their site e.g.

if want it check ucs HBA then find (cisco ucs hba firmware compatibility matrix with vmware) like this you will get below link

https://ucshcltool.cloudapps.cisco.com/public/

This is only example it depends on your hardware

For your application , I don't think hardware version of virtual machine will create any issue , but you need to check with application team or vendor for compatibility.

[AnaghB]

Hello @adam900331_1 ,

I will be happy to assist you with the query. Please let me know the Hardware Make and Model so I can check if it supports Esxi 7.0 U3 or not.

For the HBA Cards that are came along with the hardware will be supported if the hardware is. If you have added any new HBA cards apart from what comes default then we need to get the VID, DID, SVID and SDID of the card and then we check on Vmware compatibility matrix.