Running ESXi 4.1 and 5 together

[prutter]

I was looking to upgrade from ESXi 4.1 to 5 but i have a 3 yr old HOst that is NOT on the compatability list.  Is it advisable to upgrade the other two and leave that one a 4.1 host or should i just wait until next May when i upgrade it?  I'm just one to always upgrade when it becomes available and has been tested but this is the first time i ran into a server not on the HCL.  Any comments or suggestions are welcome.  Thanks!

[arturka · Accepted solution]

Hi

Looks like Esxi5 and ESXi4.1 can run together in one cluster, as far as I know vCenter will reinstall aam agent to new fdm agents on ESXi4.1 - should be OK
http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/upgrade-center/upgrade.html

I'm just one to always upgrade when it becomes available and has been tested

I'm usually waits for U1 for each of new release before implement in a production

Will you really benefit after upgrade from 4.1 to 5 ? http://www.vmware.com/support/vsphere5/doc/vsphere-esx-vcenter-server-50-new-features.html

Have you calculated number of licese against new license model which was introduce with vSphere5 ?

Cheers
Artur

Please, don't forget the awarding points for "helpful" and/or "correct" answers.

[BenConrad]

Are they in a cluster or are they standalone?

If Standalone, I'd say you can upgrade as needed and then upgrade the older box as needed.

If cluster, you are probably running an EVC mode in order to maintain compatiblity with the single older host.  If this is the case you need to figure out if you want to (someday) replace that old host and either 1) put it into the same cluster, with a potentially limiting EVC mode or 2) create a new cluster with the highest EVC baseline (for all 3 hosts) and move VMs into that new cluster.

As far as running a long term mixed-HA (if you are running HA) between 4.1 and 5.0 the HA 5.0 best practicies guide says this is possible but should be limited in timeframe, they want all hosts to eventualyl be at the same version.  The 5.0 HA FDM will be installed onto the ESX 4.x hosts.  The doc does say you should not sVmotion or storage DRS on mixed clusters.

Ben

[prutter]

Thanks for the replies guys.  The host in question is in a cluster and EVC will be a slight issue.  We have no plans to upgrade that box until next May so i am stuck there.  Maybe it's better that i just wait.  All the licencing is in order,.  There are no new licences to buy and i think that i have enterprise which, i think, gives me 96GB of vRam per licnece.  Please corect me if that's wrong.  I think i may take teh advice and wait until U1 comes out.  Thanks again for teh assistance.