Upgrade ESXI 5.5 to 7.0

[AVMap]

We fail in updating an ESXI machine, installed to our Dell Inc. Poweredge R820 server (LINUX). The existing version is 5.5. and we need 7.0. We even failed when tried to upgrade to version 6.5, as a first step. Also, we think USB and DVD are not booting to read the .iso files, even if we tried to change the BIOS settings. Has anyone had a similar problem when upgrading ESXI from 5.5 to 7.0 with USB or DVD?Has anyone update ESXI version. 5.5 to 7.0?

[a_p_]

According to https://www.vmware.com/go/hcl, the R820 doesn't support ESXi versions later than ESXi 6.5U3, which btw. will run out of support in mid October.

Regarding your upgrade attempts. How did you create the USB device/burn the CD-ROM (note you'll need a CD, not a DVD)?
If your server has iDRAC Enterprise licensed, you could attach the ISO image as a virtual device, and boot the host that way.

André

Moderator note: Discussion moved from Workstation Tech Preview Discussions to ESXi-Discussions 

[IRIX201110141]

Yes, the R820 isnt supportet for ESX 7.0. buts thats only on paper. Our R820 runs fine with 7.0.3 for a long time.... but we are fully away about the support.

If your PowerEdge have a iDRAC Enterprise you should use the virtual cdrom and apply the Dell Custom ISO.  If you want to boot from CDrom be sure that you create a bootable one... same for USB.  Within iDRAC you can specify a "one time boot from....<device>" otherwise press F12? for boot manager.

If you try to upgrade a existing ESXi installation you might be face the problem of a to small boot device (no... a 2GB SD card is not enough). Also some old modules need to remove prior.  But i never have upgraded from 5.5 directly to 7.0.x.

Regards,
Joerg

[DhirajChopra]

Hi ,  No direct upgrade possible , upgrade from 5.5 to 6.x to 7x. possible only. or fresh installation is last option. its same time and errors.

if your vc and esxi hosts are update with latest patch. it should not generate errors.