Move from ESXi 6.5 to ESXi 8.0

[FabrizioApa]

I have 2 ESXi with Vcenter (essential kit) version 6.5. Now I'll install a new host and I want to upgrade all to release 8.
My idea is to install the new host with release 8, move all the VM under ESXi to the new one (one host at a time), and upgrade the old one reinstalling the ESXi 8.
I think Vcenter is not very important: I can reinstall it. I don't have data to restore.

Is this correct, or there are some better strategies?
Can I move VM from 6.5 to 8?

Thanks for your help.

[Nick Merlevede]

You have to be at least on 6.7 to upgrade to 8.0. https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/89745

Normal upgrade path: Upgrade vCenter then upgrade every esxi host. 

[FabrizioApa]

I read it. Is this because there are no methods to move VM from 6.5 to 8?

Maybe best pass through version 7 instead 6.7.

[diegodco31]

I would probably opt for upgrading to 6.7 first. Verify your hardware is compatible with v8.0
https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php?

 

 

[Sachchidanand Upadhyay]

If you are planning to migrate VM through vMotion, vCenter version should be 8 to add ESXi 8 host, which will not be compaitable with ESXi 6.5 host.

Or you are moveing VMs via transferring vmdk?

VMs on ESXi host are compaitable with ESXi host 8.0. Please see below VM compaitibilty docs:

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/8.0/vsphere-vm-administration/GUID-64D4B1C9-CD5D-4C68-8B50-585F6A87EBA0.html

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2007240

Regards,

Sachchidanand 

[FabrizioApa]

I don't have vMotion. The VMs will be moved offline, copying the storage files (mvdk, ..). I just have to see the best way.
After all, VMs are located on DAS storage and will be moved to SAN.

[Sachchidanand Upadhyay]

Recnetly I have also moved some VMs offline, copying the storage files and all are working fine now. I have also gone through a number of documents and found it the best way without vMotion. The only difference is, I was on the same major release while you have migrate VMs to next to next major version and as per vmware documents these two versions are compaitable while moving VMs as already shared the document links.

Regards,

Sachchidanand