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SRM between clusters/sites with different ESXi versions?

  • 1.  SRM between clusters/sites with different ESXi versions?

    Posted Jan 21, 2025 12:18 PM

     Hi All,

    I'm just looking to see if someone could confirm that I will be able to SRM VMs from, lets say, Site A(in a cluster running ESX v7.0U3) to Site B (in a cluster running ESX v8.0U3) ?

    I plan on, firstly, upgrading the SRM components/appliances to the latest supported version - along with vCenter obviously (given the ESXv8 hosts in the Site B cluster.)

    I can't seem to find any documentation saying its not possible, but I just wondered if anyone had first hand experience of performing such task?

    Thanks in advance for any input/advice,

    Cheers,

    Pete



  • 2.  RE: SRM between clusters/sites with different ESXi versions?
    Best Answer

    Broadcom Employee
    Posted Jan 22, 2025 05:11 AM

    Hi Pete

    Yes, it is supported as long as you have compatible SRM/ESX versions at both sites. As documented, SRM also supports N-1 major version pairing between the sites. More details in SRM/ESX interop matrix 

    In your case this means you can have the following pair:

    Site A - ESX 7.0 U3/SRM 8.8 -> Site B - ESX 8.0 U3/SRM 9.0.x

    or Site A - ESX 7.0 U3/SRM 9.0x -> Site B - ESX 8.0 U3/SRM 9.0.x

    Hope this helps

    Ivan




  • 3.  RE: SRM between clusters/sites with different ESXi versions?

    Posted Jan 22, 2025 05:27 AM

    Hi Ivan,

    Thank you for your response to my question and confirmation that it is possible. 

    It's also interesting that I could have different versions of SRM at each site as long as they are supported etc... however I think I will try and keep both sites unifoem/consistent using SRM v9.0.x

    Thanks again,

    Pete




  • 4.  RE: SRM between clusters/sites with different ESXi versions?

    Posted Jan 22, 2025 04:24 PM

    Check on this:

    https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/vmware-cis/live-recovery/live-site-recovery/9-0/overview/overview-of-vmware-site-recovery-manager/heterogenous-configurations-on-the-protected-and-recovery-sites.html

    And Upgrade procedure:
    https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/vmware-cis/live-recovery/live-site-recovery/9-0/overview/upgrading-srm/order-of-upgrading-vsphere-and-srm-components.html



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  • 5.  RE: SRM between clusters/sites with different ESXi versions?

    Posted Jan 23, 2025 05:11 AM

    Ah, that is interesting with the SRM appliance as this NEEDS to be the same version at each site, whereas the Replication appliance/s can be different as long as they are supported.

    I think I will be keeping everything consistent, across both sites, as it seems to make sense to me do this if at all possible...which for me it is!

    Thanks for this information Pawel, very useful :)

    Cheers,

    Pete




  • 6.  RE: SRM between clusters/sites with different ESXi versions?

    Broadcom Employee
    Posted Jan 23, 2025 06:50 AM

    Hi Peter

    SRM and vSphere Replication appliance must be same version at a single site. So you can have

    Site A - ESX 7.0 U3/SRM 8.8/vSphere Replication 8.8 -> Site B - ESX 8.0 U3/SRM 9.0/vSphere Replication 9.0




  • 7.  RE: SRM between clusters/sites with different ESXi versions?

    Posted Jan 23, 2025 07:03 AM

    Hi Ivan,

    That's understood, however the Broadcom documentation also states the the SRM versions needs to be the same at each site - as per this :

    Heterogeneity of 
    VMware Live Site Recovery
     Components Between Sites
    Component
    Heterogeneous or Identical Installations
    VMware Live Site Recovery Server
    Must be the same version on both sites.
    vCenter Server
     appliance
    The 
    VMware Live Site Recovery
     version must be compatible with the 
    vCenter Server
     appliance version.
    vSphere Replication
    Must be a compatible version on both sites. The 
    vSphere Replication
     version must be compatible with the 
    VMware Live Site Recovery
     version and the 
    vCenter Server
     version.




  • 8.  RE: SRM between clusters/sites with different ESXi versions?

    Broadcom Employee
    Posted Jan 23, 2025 08:02 AM
    Edited by Ivan Jordanov Jan 23, 2025 08:02 AM

    Hi Peter

    this is only valid for VLR offering connected to the cloud mode where SRM/VR 9.0.x -> SRM/VR 9.0.x is required at both sites.

    I will be working with our tech writers team to improve the documentation section, which is already migrated here:

    https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/vmware-cis/live-recovery/live-site-recovery/9-0/overview/overview-of-vmware-site-recovery-manager/heterogenous-configurations-on-the-protected-and-recovery-sites.html




  • 9.  RE: SRM between clusters/sites with different ESXi versions?

    Posted Jan 23, 2025 08:43 AM

    Thank you for the clarification Ivan :)

    Many thanks,

    Pete