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VMware Vsphere 5

The document discusses virtual machine compatibility settings in VMware vSphere 5.1. It explains that the compatibility setting determines what ESXi host versions a virtual machine can run on by specifying its virtual hardware requirements. Higher compatibility levels provide access to more advanced virtual hardware features but reduce flexibility to run on older hosts. The default compatibility level depends on the ESXi version the VM is created on. Administrators must choose a setting that balances capabilities with desired cross-host compatibility.

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Kiran Devadas
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112 views3 pages

VMware Vsphere 5

The document discusses virtual machine compatibility settings in VMware vSphere 5.1. It explains that the compatibility setting determines what ESXi host versions a virtual machine can run on by specifying its virtual hardware requirements. Higher compatibility levels provide access to more advanced virtual hardware features but reduce flexibility to run on older hosts. The default compatibility level depends on the ESXi version the VM is created on. Administrators must choose a setting that balances capabilities with desired cross-host compatibility.

Uploaded by

Kiran Devadas
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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12/26/13

VMware vSphere 5.1

ESXiandvCenterServer5.1Documentation>vSphereUpgrade>UpgradingVirtualMachines

VirtualMachineCompatibility
Whenyoucreateavirtualmachineorupgradeanexistingvirtualmachine,youusethevirtualmachine compatibilitysettingtoselecttheESXihostversionsthatthevirtualmachinecanrunon. Thecompatibilitysettingdeterminesthevirtualhardwareavailabletothevirtualmachine,whichcorrespondstothe physicalhardwareavailableonthehost.VirtualhardwareincludesBIOSandEFI,availablevirtualPCIslots, maximumnumberofCPUs,maximummemoryconfiguration,andothercharacteristics.Newvirtualhardware capabilitiesaretypicallyreleasedonceayearwithmajororminorreleasesofvSphere. EachvirtualmachinecompatibilitylevelsupportsatleastfivemajororminorvSpherereleases.Forexample,a virtualmachinewithESXi3.5andlatercompatibilitycanrunonESXi3.5,ESXi4.0,ESXi4.1,ESXi5.0,andESXi 5.1. VirtualMachineCompatibilityOptions Co m p a t i b i l i t y ESXi5.1andlater De s c r i p t i o n Thisvirtualmachine(hardwareversion9)is compatiblewithESXi5.1andlater.

ESXi5.0andlater

Thisvirtualmachine(hardwareversion8)is compatiblewithESXi5.0and5.1.

ESX/ESXi4.xandlater

Thisvirtualmachine(hardwareversion7)is compatiblewithESX/ESXi4.x,ESXi5.0,andESXi5.1.

ESX/ESXi3.5andlater

Thisvirtualmachine(hardwareversion4)is compatiblewithESX/ESXi3.5.ESX/ESXi4.x,andESXi 5.1.ItisalsocompatiblewithVMwareServer1.0and later.ESXi5.0doesnotallowcreationofvirtual machineswiththiscompatibility,butyoucanrunsuch virtualmachinesiftheywerecreatedonahostwith differentcompatibility.

ESXServer2.xandlater

Thisvirtualmachine(hardwareversion3)is compatiblewithESXServer2.x,ESX/ESXi3.5, ESX/ESXi4.x,andESXi5.0.Youcannotcreateoredit virtualmachineswithESXServer2.xcompatibility.You canonlystartorupgradethem.

ThecompatibilitysettingthatappearsintheCompatiblewithdropdownmenuisthedefaultforthevirtual machinethatyouarecreating.Thefollowingfactorsdeterminethedefaultvirtualmachinecompatibility:

pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-51/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.vmware.vsphere.upgrade.doc%2FGUID-64D4B1C9-CD5D-4C68-8B50-585F

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VMware vSphere 5.1

TheESXihostversiononwhichthevirtualmachineiscreated. Theinventoryobjectthatthedefaultvirtualmachinecompatibilityisseton,includingahost,cluster,or datacenter.

Youcanacceptthedefaultcompatibilityorselectadifferentsetting.Itisnotalwaysnecessarytoselectthelatest ESXihostversion.Selectinganearlierversioncanprovidegreaterflexibilityandisusefulinthefollowing situations: Tostandardizetestinganddeploymentinyourvirtualenvironment. Ifyoudonotneedthecapabilitiesofthelatesthostversion. Tomaintaincompatibilitywitholderhosts.

Whenyoucreateavirtualmachine,considertheenvironmentthatthevirtualmachinewillruninandweighthe benefitsofdifferentcompatibilitystrategies.Consideryouroptionsforthesescenarios,whichdemonstratethe flexibilityinherentwitheachvirtualmachinecompatibilityselection. O b j e c t s i n En vi r o n m e n t ClusterwithESXi5.0andESXi4.x hosts Co m p a t i b i l i t y ESX4.xandlater Re s u l t s Preservestheabilityofthevirtual machinetorunonotherhostsinthe cluster,suchasESXi5.0. Youmightnothaveaccesstothe latestvirtualhardwarefeatures. ClusterwithESXi5.0andESXi4.x hosts ESXi5.0andlater Givesyouaccesstovirtual hardwarefeaturesthatarenot availablewithESXi4.x.Canalsorun onESXi5.0andlaterhosts. Youcannotmigratethis virtualmachinetoanESXi4.x host. Thisvirtualmachinedoes nothaveallthecapabilities availabletovirtualmachines thatrunonESXi5.1,for example,youcannotuse64 virtualprocessors. ESXi5.1host ESXi5.1andlater Providesaccesstothelatestvirtual features,butcannotshare resourceswithearlierhosts.

IfvirtualmachinesdonothavetostaycompatiblewitholderESX/ESXihostversions,youcanupgradethem. TomaintainvirtualmachinecompatibilitywithESX/ESXi3.5hosts,upgradethevirtualmachineonan

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VMware vSphere 5.1

ESX/ESXi3.5host,whichresultsinavirtualmachineupgradetoversion4. TomaintainvirtualmachinecompatibilitywithESX/ESXi4.xhosts,upgradethevirtualmachineonan ESX/ESXi4.xhost,whichresultsinavirtualmachineupgradetoversion7. Forinformationaboutmanagingvirtualmachinecompatibility,seethevSphereVirtualMachineAdministration documentation.

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