vCenter Server version & ESXi Host version recommendations and considerations

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article explains about the recommendations and considerations with multiple scenarios, managing vCenter and ESXi versions when running vSphere environment and VCF Environment 

 

Environment

VMware vSphere 7.0.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.x
VMware vCenter Server 7.0.x
VMware vSphere 8.0.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0.x
VMware vCenter Server 8.0.x

Resolution

VMware by Broadcom recommendations are as listed below

Scenario 1:-

Minor Upgrades vSphere 7.0.x :- 
Example 

• ESXi version is at vSphere ESXi 7.0 Update 1
• vCenter is on vSphere vCenter 7.0 Update 1
• Target upgrade to vSphere 7.0 Update 1a

Recommendations and Considerations for Upgrades

•  vCenter must be upgraded first from vCenter 7.0 Update 1 to vCenter 7.0 Update 1a
• Then the ESXi version follows, upgrade from ESXi 7.0 Update 1 to ESXi 7.0 Update 1a

 

Scenario 2:-

Major Upgrades vSphere 7.0.x :- 
Example Scenario

• ESXi version is at vSphere ESXi 7.0 Update 1
• vCenter is on vSphere vCenter 7.0 Update 1
• Target upgrade to vSphere 7.0 Update 3

Recommendations and Considerations for Upgrades

•  vCenter must be upgraded first from vCenter 7.0 Update 1 to vCenter 7.0 Update 3
• Then the ESXi version follows, upgrade from ESXi 7.0 Update 1 to ESXi 7.0 Update 3

 

Scenario 3:-

Minor Upgrades vSphere 8.0.x :- 
Example Scenario

• ESXi version is at vSphere ESXi 8.0 Update 1
• vCenter is on vSphere vCenter 8.0 Update 1
• Target upgrade to vSphere 8.0 Update 1a

Recommendations and Considerations for Upgrades

•  vCenter must be upgraded first from vCenter 8.0 Update 1 to vCenter 8.0 Update 1a
• Then the ESXi version follows, upgrade from ESXi 8.0 Update 1 to ESXi 8.0 Update 1a
  NOTE:- In some cases the ESXi version can be upgraded or can be of  higher version in minor version upgrades paths
  For example from above, if the ESXi host has a patch release of ESXi 8.0 update1b then this does not require a vCenter upgrade since this is a minor version upgrade jump

Scenario 4:-

Major Upgrades vSphere 8.0.x :- 
Example Scenario

• ESXi version is at vSphere ESXi 8.0 Update 1
• vCenter is on vSphere vCenter 8.0 Update 1
• Target upgrade to vSphere 8.0 Update 3

Recommendations and Considerations for Upgrades

• vCenter must be upgraded first from vCenter 8.0 Update 1 to vCenter 8.0 Update 3
• Then the ESXi version follows, upgrade from ESXi 8.0 Update 1 to ESXi 8.0 Update 3

For more information about vCenter build numbers , see Build numbers and versions of VMware vCenter Server (2143838)
For more information about vSphere ESXi build numbers, see Build numbers and versions of VMware ESXi/ESX (2143832)