Replicate from earlier (older) to later (newer) ESXi version

[xstevel]

Hi All,

I have been unable find the answer to this question in the docs.

Is it possible to replicate from ESXi 4.1 to ESXi 5? If so, are there any issues that may arise?

Thanks
Steve

[foggy]

Steve, just be sure your target host supports the virtual hardware version of the replicated VM. Thanks.

[xstevel]

Great, thank you.

[lobo519]

This would imply that you can replicate from ESXi4.1 to 5 but not the other way correct?

[Vitaliy S.]

No, you would still be able to replicate from vSphere 5 to 4.1 hosts. Just keep in mind that restore and replication of VMs between different ESX(i) versions requires that VM’s virtual hardware version is compatible with the target host.

[Gostev]

In other words:
1. You will NOT be able to replicate virtual hardware version 8 VMs from vSphere 5 to vSphere 4.1
2. You will be able to replicate virtual hardware version 7 or lower VMs from vSphere 5 to vSphere 4.1

[lobo519]

got it - Thanks for clarifying!

[gparker]

Hi,

I'm about the implement Veeam Backup and Replication v6 in our VMware environment. I will be using the Replication feature to replicate some VM's from my customer's Prod site to my DR site. I am running vSphere 5 in my DR site where I will be setting up the Veeam software and repository, but at this point in time I'm not sure what version of VMware my customer has.

I read up on the Veeam system requirements in both the release notes and the user guide, both of which state that v6 is compatible with VMware 3.5 and above, but neither document states whether or not the VMware versions need to be the same at both sites for the Replication feature to work properly. So is it a requirement that both sites run identical versions of VMware? And for that matter, do the VMware versions or the VMFS versions at both sites need to be identical if I want to use the v6 Backup feature to backup VM's from site A and restore them at site B?

Regards,
George.

[nmace]

I've got a vSphere 4.1 cluster that we backup with Veeam 6.1. We're working on standing up a DR cluster that Veeam will replicate to. Can that cluster be 5.0U1? Can Veeam replicate a VM from a 4.1 cluster to a 5.0 cluster? Or do they have to be the same version on both sides? I know vSphere 5.1 is not supported until Veeam 6.5 comes out.

[Aech]

nmace...I have pretty much the same setup that I just got going. ESXi 4.1 at our primary datacentre, new setup at backup datacentre running ESXi 5.0. I can successfully replicate from primary to backup sites. Only problem I have is re-ip-ing which doesnt seem to work. Not yet sure if that is a Veeam problem, a VMWare problem or a Windows problem.

[foggy]

Only problem I have is re-ip-ing which doesnt seem to work. Not yet sure if that is a Veeam problem, a VMWare problem or a Windows problem.

To find out the real culprit of the issue, please describe your setup and provide debug logs to our technical support team. I'm sure they are able to review your configuration and logs and reveal the reason of such behavior.

There are also a couple of existing topics regarding re-IP feature, just for better understanding:
Re-IP and Virtual NIC enabling
Re-ip at DR Site

[MattG]

Can Veeam 7 replicate/Quick Migrate vSphere 4.1 VMs to a remote site running vSphere 5.1?

Is this the preferred tool to migrate VMs between datacenters?

-MattG

[foggy]

Matt, yes, Veeam B&R is able to replicate and migrate VMs between these vSphere versions, please review this thread for details.

[jpoling]

I cannot find the answer to this in the user guide or documentation....for replication do the source and target host have to be running the same version of esx(i)? i.e., can I replicate a VM on an ESX 4.1 server to a host running ESXi 5.5?

Thanks,

Jeff

[foggy]

Jeff, you can replicate between different host versions, given that VM virtual hardware version is compatible. Please see above for details. Thanks.

[jpoling]

Thank you. My apologies for not digging far enough to find the forum post!

[Fox54]

Hi,

We are currently planning to upgrade to Veeam 7.x to support vSphere 5

We have still 2 vSphere 4.1 ESX server that runs VM that are on the old datastore format (VMFS3).
We want to replicate these VM on a new vSphere 5.5 ESXi host (VMware standard). The datastore format of the ESXi 5.5 host is VMFS3

Is this supported ??

If our datastore on the vSphere 5.5 was in VMFS5 format would it be also supported ??

Thanks

[foggy]

Yes, replicating to a higher vSphere version is fully supported (while replication to a lower version is supported only in cases where VM virtual hardware version is supported by the target host).

[menced]

Let's suppose I have a server running Esxi 4.1 and i replicate on a server running Esxi 5.1

I have read it is possible because othe compatibility problem is mainly due to the capability of the "receiving" server to run a virtual hardware version compatible.

Question number one is going from esxi 4.1 to 5.1 should give me problems? Is 5.1 ALWAYS able to run virtual hardware from lower versions? Is this a question only depending from esxi or from other factors (for example server hardware features)?

Question number two is: let's suppose i move my VMs from 4.1 to 5.1 and so they have virtual hardware made in 4.1. Will i be able to move them back to 4.1 or during the migration from 4.1 to 5.1 something has changed? Is it possible to move from 4.1 to 5.1 and then back to 4.1?

If i have not been clear, please tell me. Thanks.

[foggy]

You're correct, it is a question of a VM virtual hardware version compatibility with the target host. Basically, if it supports the hardware version of the replicated VM, you're good to go. Since virtual hardware version does not change by itself and previous versions of virtual hardware are always supported by the newer host versions, you can safely replicate VMs up and then back down, if required.

[jbrown]

Does anyone know if Veeam Replication supports replicating from vSphere 4.1 to vSphere 5.5? I'm researching potential methods of migrating a few TB from an older datacenter to a new datacenter (each is geographically distinct).

[veremin]

Yes, you can. More information can be found in the answers provided above. Thanks.

[skydok]

I'm looking to Replicate a VM from vCenter 5.5 to vCenter 6.x
Except that the VM hardware version should be supported on both sides , is there any documentation of this type?

I'm trying to find refrence to these type of things but can't find.

[foggy]

A general rule of thumb for replicating between different host versions is that replication to a higher version is fully supported, while replication to a lower version is supported provided VM virtual hardware version is supported on both sides.

[veremin]

Also, prior to similar migrations it's worth checking "Platform Support" section of our User Guide and confirming whether both platform versions are supported. In your case, they are. Thanks.

[heruts]

Hi all,
I want to ask is it possible or no issue to replication virtual machine from source vmware esxi 6.7 to target esxi 6.5.

thank you for answer

Heru ts

[veremin]

It might work, as long as source VM virtual hardware version is supported by target host. But if I were you, I would probably update the target infrastructure first (before creating replication jobs). Thanks!