vSphere ESXi Back-in-time release upgrade restriction
Article ID: 312160
Updated On:
Products
VMware vSphere ESXi
Issue/Introduction
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 vSphere ESXi 6.7 P08 release number 20497097 (released on 06-OCT-2022) and you plan to upgrade to vSphere ESXi 7.0 U1 release number 16850804 (released on 6-Oct-2020). vSphere ESXi 7.0 U1 is considered back-in-time release with reference to vSphere ESXi 6.7 P08
- Upgrade from vSphere ESXi 6.7 P08 to vSphere ESXi 7.0 U1is not supported due to the back-in-time nature of vSphere ESXi 7.0 U1. vSphere ESXi 6.7 P08 contains code and security fixes that are not in vSphere ESXi 7.0 U1 and might cause regression.
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 vSphere ESXi 6.7 P08 release number 20497097 (released on 06-OCT-2022)
2. The planned upgrade path is to vSphere ESXi 7.0 U1 release number 16850804 (released on 6-Oct-2020).
3. vSphere ESXi 6.7 P08 is therefore considered a back-in-time release with reference to vSphere ESXi 7.0 U1
For more information about vCenter Back-in-time release upgrade restriction, see vCenter Server Back-in-time release upgrade restriction (67077)
Notes:
- All ESXi 6.7 versions "release date prior October 11 2022" upgrades to ESXi 8.0 are supported.
- All ESXi 6.5 versions upgrades to ESXi 8.0 are not supported.
- In addition to the listed upgrade support matrix, all ESXi 6.5 & 6.7 releases are upgradable to ESXi 7.0U3m and onwards.
Environment
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.5
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7
Resolution
ESXi 7.0.x to 8.0 upgrade matrix:
| Release Date | 10/11/2022 | 12/08/2022 | 02/14/2023 | 03/30/2023 | 04/18/2023 | |
| ESXi Release - Build Number | ESXi 8.0 GA- 20513097 | ESXi 8.0a Patch - 20842819 | ESXi 8.0b Patch - 21203435 | ESXi 8.0c Patch - 21493926 | ESXi 8.0 U1- 21495797 | |
| 02/04/2020 | ESXi 7.0 GA -15843807 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 23/06/2020 | ESXi 7.0b Patch -16324942 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 06/10/2020 | ESXi 7.0 Update 1 - 16850804 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 04/11/2020 | ESXi 7.0U1a Patch - 17119627 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 19/11/2020 | ESXi 7.0U1b Patch - 17168206 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 17/12/2020 | ESXi 7.0U1c Patch - 17325551 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 02/02/2021 | ESXi 7.0U1d Patch - 17551050 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 09/03/2021 | ESXi 7.0 Update 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 29/04/2021 | ESXi 7.0U2a Patch - 17867351 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 24/08/2021 | ESXi 7.0U2c Patch - 18426014 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 14/09/2021 | ESXi 7.0U2d Patch - 18538813 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 27/01/2022 | ESXi 7.0U3c Update - 19193900 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 15/02/2022 | *ESXi 7.0U1e Patch - 19324898 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 15/02/2022 | *ESXi 7.0U2e Patch - 19290878 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 29/03/2022 | ESXi 7.0U3d Patch - 19482537 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 14/06/2022 | ESXi 7.0U3e Patch - 19898904 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 12/07/2022 | ESXi 7.0U3f Patch - 20036589 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 01/09/2022 | ESXi 7.0U3g Patch - 20328353 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 12/08/2022 | ESXi 7.0U3i Patch - 20842708 | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 01/31/2023 | ESXi 7.0U3j Patch - 21053776 | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 02/21/2023 | ESXi 7.0U3k Patch - 21313628 | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 03/30/2023 | ESXi 7.0U3l Patch - 21424296 | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| 05/03/2023 | ESXi 7.0U3m Patch - 21686933 | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Note:
ESXi 6.5 (and all its patches) to ESXi 8.0 upgrade is not supported.
ESXi 6.x to 7.0 upgrade matrix:
| Release Date | 04/02/2020 | 06/23/2020 | 10/15/2020 | 11/04/2020 | 11/19/2020 | 12/17/2020 | 02/04/2021 | 03/09/2021 | 04/29/2021 | 08/24/2021 | 09/14/2021 | 01/27/2022 | 02/15/2022 | 02/15/2022 | 03/29/2022 | 06/14/2022 | 07/12/2022 | 09/01/2022 | 12/08/2022 | 01/31/2023 | 02/21/2023 | 03/30/2023 | 05/03/2023 | |
| ESXi Release - Build Number | ESXi 7.0 GA -15843807 | ESXi 7.0b Patch -16324942 | ESXi 7.0 Update 1 - 16850804 | ESXi 7.0U1a Patch - 17119627 | ESXi 7.0U1b Patch - 17168206 | ESXi 7.0U1c Patch - 17325551 | ESXi 7.0U1d Patch - 17551050 | ESXi 7.0 Update 2 - 17630552 |
ESXi 7.0U2a Patch - 17867351 | ESXi 7.0U2c Patch - 18426014 | ESXi 7.0U2d Patch - 18538813 | ESXi 7.0U3c Update - 19193900 | *ESXi 7.0U1e Patch - 19324898 | *ESXi 7.0U2e Patch - 19290878 | ESXi 7.0U3d Patch - 19482537 | ESXi 7.0U3e Patch - 19898904 | ESXi 7.0U3f Patch - 20036589 | ESXi 7.0U3g Patch - 20328353 | ESXi 7.0U3i Patch - 20842708 | ESXi 7.0U3j Patch - 21053776 | ESXi 7.0U3k Patch - 21313628 | ESXi 7.0U3l Patch - 21424296 | ESXi 7.0U3m Patch - 21686933 | |
| 05/12/2019 | ESXi 670-201912001 Patch - 15160138 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 12/19/2019 | ESXi 650-201912002 Patch -15256549 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 04/07/2020 | ESXi 670-202004001 Patch - 15820472 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 04/28/2020 | ESXi 670-202004002 Patch - 16075168 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 05/28/2020 | ESXi 650-202005001 Patch - 16207673 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 06/09/2020 | ESXi 670-202006001 Patch - 16316930 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 06/30/2020 | ESXi 650-202006001 Patch - 16389870 | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 07/30/2020 | ESXi 650-202007001 Patch - 16576891 | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 08/20/2020 | ESXi 670-202008001 Patch - 16713306 | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10/15/2020 | ESXi 650-202010001 Patch - 16901156 | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10/15/2020 | ESXi 670-202010001 Patch - 16773714 | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 11/04/2020 | ESXi 650-202011001 Patch - 17097218 | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 11/04/2020 | ESXi 670-202011001 Patch - 17098360 | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 11/19/2020 | ESXi 650-202011002 Patch - 17167537 | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 11/19/2020 | ESXi 670-202011002 Patch - 17167734 | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 02/23/2021 | ESXi 670-202102001 Patch - 17499825 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 02/23/2021 | ESXi 650-202102001 Patch - 17477841 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 03/18/2021 | ESXi 670-202103001 Patch - 17700523 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 07/13/2021 | ESXi 650-202107001 Patch - 18071574 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10/12/2021 | ESXi 650-202110001 Patch - 18678235 |
No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 11/23/2021 | ESXi 670-202111001 Patch - 18828794 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 01/25/2022 | ESXi 670-202201001 Patch - 19195723 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 02/15/2022 | ESXi 650-202202001 Patch - 19092475 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 05/12/2022 | ESXi 650-202205001 Patch - 19588618 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 06/14/2022 | ESXi 670-202206001 Patch - 19898906 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 07/12/2022 | ESXi 670-202207001 Patch - 19997733 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 07/12/2022 | ESXi 650-202207001 Patch - 19997716 | 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 | ESXi 650-202210001 Patch - 20502893 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10/06/2022 | ESXi 670-202210001 Patch - 20497097 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Notes:
- The supported upgrade path from ESXi 6.5.x and 6.7.x for VMSA-2022-0004 is ESXi 7.0 Update 3c (build 19193900) or later.
- The supported upgrade path from ESXi 7.0 U1e Release notes and 7.0 U2e Release notes is to ESXi 7.0 Update 3c (build 19193900) or later.
- This table contains ESXi upgrade matrix starting from last GA'ed patches on 6.5 and 6.7 release lines in December 2019 to ESXi 7.0 GA and onwards.
- Upgrades from any prior ESXi releases before December 2019 to 7.0 GA and onwards is supported as per the ESXi Upgrade Path matrix. For more information, see VMware Product Interoperability Matrices and mark the checkbox for "Hide patch release."
Additional Information
Note: Upgrades to ESXi670-202004002 and future patches from some earlier versions of ESXi might fail due to the replacement of an expired digital signing certificate and key. For more details on the issue and workaround, see VMware knowledge base article Impact on ESXi upgrade to future ESXi releases of 2020 due to expired ESXi VIB Certificate (76555)
For more information about vCenter Back-in-time release upgrade restriction, see vCenter Server Back-in-time release upgrade restriction (67077)
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