Downgrade virtual machine hardware version

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In VMWare ESXi virtual machines have a hardware version. Based on this version they boot only on hypervisors above a certain version. For example VMs with hardware version 13 required ESXi 6.5 or above. See https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1003746 for full list of ESXi VM hardware versions and compatible ESXi versions required to run them.

To upgrade virtual machine hardware, we can simply right click the VM and choose Compatibility -> Upgrade VM compatibility when the VM is powered off. The reasons for upgrade are mostly features. If a certain feature such as Serial ports are added in particular version of ESXi then unless VM hardware version is increased to that particular level, we will not get that feature.

There might be requirement to downgrade if you have created a VM on updated ESXi (Eg 7.0) and want to run / migrate the VM to ESXi 6.5. Note this cannot be done via vMotion even if machine is powered off. To downgrade virtual machine hardware there are two options:

1. Migrate the machine using VMWare standalone converter. Refer Migrate machines to VMWare vCenter VMs using standalone converter
2. Create new VM with lower hardware version. Remove old VM from inventory (Do not delete disks). Attach hard-disks of previous VM with this new VM

Refer:

• https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1028019

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