Replacing hosts in a VMware cluster
Aloha,
We have a 4 host cluster of Dell PE 820s running 6.5 that we are about to replace with 840s. We also have 3 other clusters running 6.7 that have hosts that the HCL says can run 7.x. The end result we want is everything running 7.x. My question is - should we start the 840 running 7.x or install 6.7 and then upgrade them as we will the other 3 clusters?
Mahalo,
Bill
We have a 4 host cluster of Dell PE 820s running 6.5 that we are about to replace with 840s. We also have 3 other clusters running 6.7 that have hosts that the HCL says can run 7.x. The end result we want is everything running 7.x. My question is - should we start the 840 running 7.x or install 6.7 and then upgrade them as we will the other 3 clusters?
Mahalo,
Bill
ASKER
Yes that's step #1. All 4 clusters are managed by the same vcenter/vcsa.
backup uour vcenter appliance. if it is virtual, you can just clone it
update vcenter, check everything still works.
install new esxis using 7
upgrade or replace servers one at a time.
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btw, there is as far as i know little improvements in esxi7 over 6.7 unless you use kubernetes and 6.7 won t prevent you from upgrading for a number of years so there might not be much a point replacing working servers with mostly equivalent newer ones.
update vcenter, check everything still works.
install new esxis using 7
upgrade or replace servers one at a time.
--
btw, there is as far as i know little improvements in esxi7 over 6.7 unless you use kubernetes and 6.7 won t prevent you from upgrading for a number of years so there might not be much a point replacing working servers with mostly equivalent newer ones.
ASKER
The 820s won't go beyond 6.5.
check the vmware compat list. if 7.0 can handle 6.5, there is no point. if it cannot, many options including sticking to 6.7 for now ( not that i would recommend it without more info ) may be viable and the way to go depends on many factors only you know about such as the possibility to reuse those servers for something else, budget constraints...
a quick google search suggests vcenter7 can handle esx6.5.i would probably wait for a couple of 820 to die and recycle the others as db or mail servers during the next vcenter upgrade that won t handle it. most likely you can stick to 7 for a few years and those servers will be dead or obsolete before that.
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will U1 still support 6.5 ? i would guess yes
6.5 and 6.7 are still supported by VMware and VCSA 7.0.
6.5 was given and additional lifeline.
U1 will be the same.
6.5 was given and additional lifeline.
U1 will be the same.
ASKER
I'm sorry if I wasn't clear. We already have the 840s. The question was simply whether to start them with 6.7 or 7.x. Will wait till 7.0 U1 then let 'em rip.
Mahalo kakou,
Bill
Mahalo kakou,
Bill
WAIT!
and of course, you will need licenses for 7.0. U1.
I would not waste time now deploying 6.7. You are so close to 7.0 U1 being released, which is a major bug release, if we were having this conversation in April 2020, I would have said go with 6.7.
But we are not far away from a fixed Stable release.
But ultimately it is your choice. Just remember with a mixed 6.7 and 7.0 cluster which is supported, you'll need to make sure you use Virtual Machine version based on 6.7, otherwise you'll not be able to move VMs between hosts, and also you'll probably need to use an EVC baseline (but that's if you stick with 6.7 or 7.0, that makes no difference)
and of course, you will need licenses for 7.0. U1.
I would not waste time now deploying 6.7. You are so close to 7.0 U1 being released, which is a major bug release, if we were having this conversation in April 2020, I would have said go with 6.7.
But we are not far away from a fixed Stable release.
But ultimately it is your choice. Just remember with a mixed 6.7 and 7.0 cluster which is supported, you'll need to make sure you use Virtual Machine version based on 6.7, otherwise you'll not be able to move VMs between hosts, and also you'll probably need to use an EVC baseline (but that's if you stick with 6.7 or 7.0, that makes no difference)
i would build the hosts with 7; as long as vCenter is at 7, don't see the point in building new servers as 6.7 then upgrading to 7