vCenter Server Back-in-time release upgrade restriction
Article ID: 312157
Updated On:
Products
VMware vCenter Server
VMware vSphere ESXi
Issue/Introduction
This article provides information on the concept of "back-in-time" upgrade scenarios. Back-in-time upgrades are not supported by VMware.
A back-in-time scenario is defined as an upgrade path that would result in the deliberate regression of code and security fixes.
Example:
1. The current installation is vCenter Server 6.7 U3s release number 20540798 (released on 06-Oct-2022).
2. The planned upgrade path is to vCenter Server 7.0 U1 release date 16860138 (released on 06-Oct-2020).
3. vCenter Server 7.0 U1 is therefore considered a back-in-time release with reference to vCenter Server 6.7 U3s.
Note: (*) - VCSA release only.
Symptoms:
A back-in-time scenario is defined as an upgrade path that would result in the deliberate regression of code and security fixes.
Example:
1. The current installation is vCenter Server 6.7 U3s release number 20540798 (released on 06-Oct-2022).
2. The planned upgrade path is to vCenter Server 7.0 U1 release date 16860138 (released on 06-Oct-2020).
3. vCenter Server 7.0 U1 is therefore considered a back-in-time release with reference to vCenter Server 6.7 U3s.
vCenter Server and ESXi matrix:
- vCenter Server 7.0.x to 8.0 upgrade matrix
- vCenter Server 6.7 to 8.0 upgrade matrix
- vCenter Server 6.5 to 7.0 upgrade matrix
- vCenter Server 6.7 to 7.0 upgrade matrix
- All vCenter Server 6.7 versions "Except vCenter Server 6.7 U3s build 20540798" upgrades to vCenter Server 8.0 are supported.
- All vCenter Server 6.5 versions upgrades to vCenter Server 8.0 are not supported.
- Always reference the vSphere Release Notes for considerations when planning an upgrade to a vSphere environment.
- In addition to the listed upgrade support matrix, all VC 6.5 & 6.7 releases are upgradable to VC 7.0U3l and onwards
Note: (*) - VCSA release only.
Symptoms:
Note: VMware is no longer updating this KB. Back-in-time release information will now be managed through the Interoperability Matrix Tool. Please refer to the following link here. After selecting the appropriate solution, uncheck the "Hide Patch Releases."
- Upgrade to a vSphere version that is released prior to your current installation is not supported.
- Back-in-time release: A patch or update release that is backdated with reference to the release you are planning to upgrade from.
E.g. your current installation is vCenter Server 6.7 U3s release number 20540798 (released on 06-Oct-2022) and you plan to upgrade to vCenter Server 7.0 U1 release number 16860138 (released on 06-Oct-2020). vCenter Server 7.0 U1 is considered back-in-time release with reference to vCenter Server 6.7 U3s.
- Upgrade from vCenter Server 6.7 U3s to vCenter Server 7.0 U1 is not supported due to the back-in-time nature of vCenter Server 7.0 U1. vCenter Server 6.7 U3s contains code and security fixes that are not in vCenter Server 7.0 U1 and might cause regression.
Environment
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.0
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.5
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.x
VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.7.x
VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.5.x
VMware vCenter Server 6.7.x
VMware ESXi 6.7.x
VMware vCenter Server 6.5.x
VMware ESXi 6.5.x
VMware vCenter Server 7.0.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.0
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.5
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.x
VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.7.x
VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.5.x
VMware vCenter Server 6.7.x
VMware ESXi 6.7.x
VMware vCenter Server 6.5.x
VMware ESXi 6.5.x
VMware vCenter Server 7.0.x
Resolution
vCenter Server 7.0.x to 8.0 upgrade matrix::
| Release Date | 10/11/2022 | 12/15/2022 | 02/14/2023 | 03/30/2023 | 04/18/2023 | |
| vCenter Server Release - Build Number | vCenter Server 8.0IA/GA-20519528 |
vCenter Server 8.0a-20920323 |
vCenter Server 8.0b-21216066 |
vCenter Server 8.0c-21457384 |
vCenter Server 8.0U1-21560480 |
|
| 04/02/2020 | vCenter Server 7.0.0 - 15952498 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 05/19/2020 | vCenter Server 7.0.0a - 16189094 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 06/23/2020 | vCenter Server 7.0.0b - 16386292 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 07/30/2020 | vCenter Server 7.0.0c - 16620007 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 08/25/2020 | vCenter Server 7.0.0d - 16749653 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10/06/2020 | vCenter Server 7.0U1 - 16860138 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10/22/2020 | vCenter Server 7.0U1a - 17004997 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 12/17/2020 | vCenter Server 7.0U1c - 17327517 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 02/02/2021 | vCenter Server 7.0U1d - 17491101 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 03/09/2021 | vCenter Server 7.0U2 - 17694817 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 04/27/2021 | vCenter Server 7.0U2a - 17920168 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 05/25/2021 | vCenter Server 7.0U2b - 17958471 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 08/24/2021 | vCenter Server 7.0U2c - 18356314 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 09/21/2021 | vCenter Server 7.0U2d - 18455184 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10/05/2021 | vCenter Server 7.0U3 - 18700403 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10/21/2021 | vCenter Server 7.0U3a - 18778458 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 01/27/2022 | vCenter Server 7.0U3c - 19234570 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 03/29/2022 | vCenter Server 7.0U3d - 1948086 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 05/12/2022 | vCenter Server 7.0U3e - 19717403 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 07/12/2022 | vCenter Server 7.0U3f - 20051473 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 07/23/2022 | vCenter Server 7.0U3g - 20150588 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 09/13/2022 | vCenter Server 7.0U3h - 20395099 | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 12/08/2022 | vCenter Server 7.0U3i - 20845200 | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 12/22/2022 | vCenter Server 7.0U3j - 20990077 | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 02/23/2023 | vCenter Server 7.0U3k - 21290409 | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| 03/30/2023 | vCenter Server 7.0U3l - 21477706 | No | No | No | No | Yes |
vCenter Server 6.7 to 8.0 upgrade matrix:
| Release Date | 10/11/2022 | 12/15/2022 | 02/14/2023 | 03/30/2023 | 04/18/2023 | |
| vCenter Server Release - Build Number | vCenter Server 8.0GA - 20519528 |
vCenter Server |
vCenter Server |
vCenter Server |
vCenter Server 8.0U1 - 21560480 | |
| 04/17/2018 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 8217866 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 05/22/2018 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 a 8546234 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 06/28/2018 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 b 8832884 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 07/26/2018 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 c 9232925 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 08/14/2018 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 d 9451876 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10/16/2018 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U1 10244745 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 12/20/2018 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U1a 11338176 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 01/17/2019 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U1b 11726888 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 04/11/2019 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U2 13010631 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 05/14/2019 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U2a 13643870 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 05/30/2019 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U2b 13843380 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 07/16/2019 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U2c 14070457 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 08/20/2019 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3 14367737 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10/24/2019 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3a 14836122 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 12/05/2019 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3b 15132721 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 01/30/2020 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3c 15505668 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 02/27/2020 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3d 15679281 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 03/26/2020 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3e 15808844 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 04/09/2020 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3f 15976714 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 04/28/2020 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3g 16046470 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 05/28/2020 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3h 16275304 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 07/30/2020 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3i 16616482 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 08/20/2020 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3j 16708996 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10/22/2020 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3k 17028579* | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 11/19/2020 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3l 17138064 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 03/18/2021 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3m 17713310 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 05/25/2021 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3n 18010531 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 09/21/2021 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3o 18485166 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 11/23/2021 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3p 18831133 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 02/08/2022 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3q 19300125 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 06/14/2022 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3r 19832974 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10/06/2022 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3s 20540798 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
vCenter Server 6.5 to 7.0 upgrade matrix:
| Release Date | 04/02/2020 | 05/19/2020 | 06/23/2020 | 07/30/2020 | 08/25/2020 | 10/06/2020 | 10/22/2020 | 12/17/2020 | 02/02/2021 | 03/09/2021 | 04/27/2021 | 05/25/2021 | 08/24/2021 | 09/21/2021 | 10/05/2021 | 10/21/2021 | 01/27/2022 | 03/29/2022 | 05/12/2022 | 07/12/2022 | 07/23/2022 | 09/13/2022 | 12/08/2022 | 12/22/2022 | 02/23/2023 | 03/30/2023 | |
| vCenter Server Release - Build Number |
vCenter Server 7.0.0 - 15952498 |
vCenter Server 7.0.0a - 16189094 |
vCenter Server 7.0.0b - 16386292 |
vCenter Server 7.0.0c - 16620007 |
vCenter Server 7.0.0d - 16749653 | vCenter Server 7.0U1 - 16860138 | vCenter Server 7.0U1a - 17004997 | vCenter Server 7.0U1c - 17327517 | vCenter Server 7.0U1d - 17491101 | vCenter Server 7.0U2 - 17694817 | vCenter Server 7.0U2a - 17920168 |
vCenter Server 7.0U2b - 17958471 |
vCenter Server 7.0U2c - 18356314 | vCenter Server 7.0U2d - 18455184 | vCenter Server 7.0U3 - 18700403 | vCenter Server 7.0U3a - 18778458 | vCenter Server 7.0U3c - 19234570 | vCenter Server 7.0U3d - 19480866 | vCenter Server 7.0U3e - 19717403 | vCenter Server 7.0U3f - 20051473 | vCenter Server 7.0U3g - 20150588 | vCenter Server 7.0U3h - 20395099 | vCenter Server 7.0U3i - 20845200 | vCenter Server 7.0U3j - 20990077 | vCenter Server 7.0U3k - 21290409 | vCenter Server 7.0U3l - 21477706 | |
| 5/28/2020 | vCenter Server 6.5.0 U3j 16275158* |
No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 7/30/2020 | vCenter Server 6.5.0 U3k 16613358 |
No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 8/25/2020 | vCenter Server 6.5.0 U3l - 16764584 * | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10/22/2020 | vCenter Server 6.5.0 U3m - 17027909* | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 02/23/2021 | vCenter Server 6.5.0 U3n - 17590285 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 03/23/2021 | vCenter Server 6.5.0 U3o - 17720264 * | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 05/25/2021 | vCenter Server 6.5.0 U3p - 17994927 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 09/21/2021 | vCenter Server 6.5.0 U3q - 18499837 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10/12/2021 | vCenter Server 6.5.0 U3r - 18711281 |
No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 02/08/2022 | vCenter Server 6.5.0 U3s - 19261680 |
No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 05/12/2022 | vCenter Server 6.5.0 U3t - 19757181 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10/06/2022 | vCenter Server 6.5.0 U3u - 20510539 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Note:
- All prior releases of 6.5 to 7.0 are supported.
- Due to recent out-of-band patching for PhotonOS, there are versions of vCenter Server with a release date that appear to make them supported upgrade paths, but would still create a regression of code.
vCenter Server 6.7 to 7.0 upgrade matrix:
| Release Date | 04/02/2020 | 05/19/2020 | 06/23/2020 | 07/30/2020 | 08/25/2020 | 10/06/2020 | 10/22/2020 | 12/17/2020 | 02/02/2021 | 03/09/2021 | 04/27/20210 | 05/25/2021 | 08/24/2021 | 09/21/2021 | 10/05/2021 | 10/21/2021 | 01/27/2022 | 03/29/2022 | 05/12/2022 | 07/12/2022 | 07/23/2022 | 09/13/2022 | 12/08/2022 | 12/22/2022 | 02/23/2023 | 03/30/2023 | |
| vCenter Server Release - Build Numbers | vCenter Server 7.0-15952498 |
vCenter Server 7.0.0a-16189094 |
vCenter Server 7.0.0b- 16386292 | vCenter Server 7.0.0c- 16620007 | vCenter Server 7.0.0d- 16749653 | vCenter Server 7.0U1 - 16860138 | vCenter Server 7.0U1a - 17004997 | vCenter Server 7.0U1c - 17327517 | vCenter Server 7.0U1d - 17491101 | vCenter Server 7.0U2 - 17694817 | vCenter Server 7.0U2a - 17920168 | vCenter Server 7.0U2b - 17958471 | vCenter Server 7.0U2c 18356314 |
vCenter Server 7.0U2d - 18455184 | vCenter Server 7.0U3 - 18700403 | vCenter Server 7.0U3a - 18778458 | vCenter Server 7.0U3c - 19234570 | vCenter Server 7.0U3d - 19480866 | vCenter Server 7.0U3e - 19717403 | vCenter Server 7.0U3f - 20051473 | vCenter Server 7.0U3g - 20150588 | vCenter Server 7.0U3h - 20395099 | vCenter Server 7.0U3i - 20845200 | vCenter Server 7.0U3j - 20990077 | vCenter Server 7.0U3k - 21290409 | vCenter Server 7.0U3l - 21477706 | |
| 04/09/2020 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3f 15976714 |
No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 04/28/2020 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3g 16046470 |
No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 05/28/2020 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3h 16275304* |
No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 07/30/2020 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3i 16616482* |
No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 08/20/2020 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3j 16708996 | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10/22/2020 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3k 17028579* |
No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 11/19/2020 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3l 17138064 |
No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 03/18/2021 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3m 17713310 |
No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 05/25/2021 |
vCenter Server |
No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 09/21/2021 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3o - 18485166 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 11/23/2021 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3p - 18831133 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 02/08/2022 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3q - 19300125 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 06/14/2022 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3r - 19832974 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10/06/2022 | vCenter Server 6.7.0 U3s - 20540798 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Note:
- All prior releases of 6.7 to 7.0 are supported.
- VMware vSphere 7.0U3c was released on January 27th 2022. Please see KB 318867 and KB 344885 for important information relating to this version.
Additional Information
For more information about vSphere ESXi Back-in-time release upgrade restriction, see vSphere ESXi Back-in-time release upgrade restriction (312160)
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