vMotion fails with VDS version mismatch error in VMware Cloud Foundation
Article ID: 439950
Updated On:
Products
Issue/Introduction
When attempting to migrate a virtual machine via vMotion from a source cluster to a destination cluster within the same vCenter Server, the migration fails. You will observe the following error message in the vSphere Client:
The target host does not support the virtual machine's current hardware requirements. The destination virtual switch version or type (VDS 8.0.3) is different than the minimum required version or type (VDS 7.0.3) necessary to migrate VM from source virtual switch.
Environment
- VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF)
- VMware vCenter Server
- VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0.3
- vSphere Distributed Switch (VDS) 7.0.3 and 8.0.3
Cause
This issue occurs due to a strict vSphere Distributed Switch (VDS) version mismatch between the source cluster (e.g., VDS 7.0.3) and the destination cluster (e.g., VDS 8.0.3). vMotion pre-checks require virtual network compatibility between the source and destination hosts. Because the destination VDS differs from the source VDS requirements, the migration is blocked.
Resolution
To resolve this issue, you must upgrade the source VDS directly in vCenter Server to match the destination version. Modifying this setting directly in vCenter Server is the supported method and will not break SDDC Manager integration or compromise environment integrity.
Perform the following steps:
Export the VDS configuration prior to upgrading so it can be restored in the event of an upgrade failure.
Set VMware DRS to Manual on all clusters before starting the upgrade to prevent vMotion migrations during the process.
Perform the VDS upgrade directly within the vCenter Server UI.
Note: Once a VDS is upgraded, you cannot revert it to an earlier version.
Additional Information
For full procedural details on upgrading the distributed switch within a VMware Cloud Foundation environment, refer to the official documentation: Upgrade vSphere Distributed Switch Versions
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