Cisco Nexus 1000V and VMware Compatibility Information, Release 4.2(1)SV2(2.1)

Available Languages

Download Options

  • PDF     (299.8 KB)
    View with Adobe Reader on a variety of devices
Updated:August 27, 2014

Bias-Free Language

The documentation set for this product strives to use bias-free language. For the purposes of this documentation set, bias-free is defined as language that does not imply discrimination based on age, disability, gender, racial identity, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality. Exceptions may be present in the documentation due to language that is hardcoded in the user interfaces of the product software, language used based on RFP documentation, or language that is used by a referenced third-party product. Learn more about how Cisco is using Inclusive Language.

Table of Contents

Cisco Nexus 1000V and VMware Compatibility Information, Release 4.2(1)SV2(2.1)

Information About Upgrading and Software Compatibility

Information About Server Compatibility

Cisco Nexus 1000V Software Release Compatibility

Host Software Version Compatibility

VMware Version Compatibility

Related Documentation

Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request

Cisco Nexus 1000V and VMware Compatibility Information, Release 4.2(1)SV2(2.1)

Last Updated: May 5, 2015

This document provides the following compatibility information for the Cisco Nexus 1000V:

Information About Upgrading and Software Compatibility

Important Customer Update

In order to improve customer support for the Cisco Nexus 1000V, Cisco now only updates the support matrix for major and minor releases from VMware. All VMware patch and update releases are automatically supported at the time of their release. VMware guarantees compatibility with all patches and updates, and customers are not required to check the matrix for VMware patch or update support.

Interactive Upgrade Utility Tool

An easy-to-use Cisco Nexus 1000V and VMware ESX/ESXi Upgrade Utility provides you with steps to follow for your specific upgrade. It is available at this URL:

http://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/td/docs/Website/datacenter/nexus1000/upgrade/n1kvmatrix.html

Note See also Understanding Cisco Nexus 1000V and VMware Software Version Compatibility.

If you are not using VUM, To ensure the compatibility with the existing VSM software version, you can install the compatible VEM software version using the following command:

esxcli software vib install -d [path to VEM offline bundle]
 

Example:

esxcli software vib install -d "/../VEM500-201306160100-BG-release.zip "

Note The esxupdate command is only available on ESX, not ESXi. The vihostupdate command is available on both ESX and ESXi.

Starting with ESX/ESXi 4.1 GA, and ESXi 5.0, binary compatibility was introduced. With the introduction of binary compatibility, it is no longer necessary to add the Cisco VIB when upgrading from one patch level to another.

With binary compatibility, if you are patching from ESXi500-201207001 to ESXi500-201209001, you run the following command:

esxcli software vib update -d VEM500-201306160100-BG-release.zip
 

Note For more information about installing or upgrading VEM software, see the Cisco Nexus 1000V Installation and Upgrade Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV2(2.1).

Information About Server Compatibility

The servers running the Cisco Nexus 1000V VSM and VEM must be in the VMware Hardware Compatibility List (HCL).

The Cisco Nexus 1000V is compatible with any upstream physical access layer switch that is Ethernet standard compliant, including Catalyst 6500 series switches, Cisco Nexus switches, and switches from other network vendors.

Cisco Nexus 1000V Software Release Compatibility

Note ● Do not install VMware vSphere 5.5 Patch 2702864 with Cisco Nexus 1000V. The VMware vSphere 5.5 Patch 2702864 is not supported on Cisco Nexus 1000V.

  • Cisco Nexus 1000V Release 4.2(1)SV2(2.1) does not support VMware ESX/ESXi 4.0 and 4.1 release series or any earlier ESX/ESXi releases.

Table 1 shows the compatibility for the Cisco Nexus 1000V Release 4.2(1)SV2(2.1) and VMware.

 

Table 1 VMware and Cisco Nexus 1000V Software Compatibility for Release 4.2(1)SV2(2.1)

VMware Software Release Supported
Cisco Nexus 1000V Release
4.2(1)SV2(2.1)

ESXi 5.5 and later12

Compatible3

ESXi 5.1 and later

Compatible2

ESXi 5.0 and later

Compatible2

ESX/ESXi 4.1 and later

Not supported

ESX/ESXi 4.0 and later

Not supported

ESX/ESXi 3.5 and later

Not supported

1.VMware ESXi 5.5 is not supported on Cisco vPath Ecosystem Release 2.5. 2. For compatibility information with Cisco vPath Ecosystem, see Compatibility Matrix for Products in Cisco vPath Ecosystem.

2.Do not install VMware vSphere 5.5 Patch 2702864 with Cisco Nexus 1000V. The VMware vSphere 5.5 Patch 2702864 is not supported on Cisco Nexus 1000V.

3.The Cisco Nexus 1000V VIB is available in the VSM home page: http://<vsm_ip>.

Important Customer Update

In order to improve customer support for the Cisco Nexus 1000V, Cisco only updates the support matrix for major and minor releases from VMware. All VMware patch and update releases are automatically supported at the time of their release. VMware guarantees compatibility with all patches and updates, and customers are not required to check the matrix for VMware patch or update support.

Host Software Version Compatibility

Table 2 lists the compatible host software versions for VMware ESXi 5.5, ESXi 5.1, ESXi 5.0 and the Cisco Nexus 1000V VEM for Release 4.2(1)SV2(2.1).

Note ● Do not install VMware vSphere 5.5 Patch 2702864 with Cisco Nexus 1000V. The VMware vSphere 5.5 Patch 2702864 is not supported on Cisco Nexus 1000V.

 

Table 2 Host Software Version Compatibility for ESXi 5.5, 5.1, and 5.0

VIB Version

(VIB files are available at http://www.vmware.com/patch/download.)
VEM Bundle

(VMware bundled software updates require placing the host in maintenance mode.)
Minimum Supported Version
WindowsVC Installer
Linux vCenter Server Appliance
vSphere CLI
Power Shell CLI
VMware software version: ESXi 5.5(includes patches and updates) 4

cross_cisco-vem-v160-4.2.1.2.2.1.0-3.2.1.vib

VEM550-201308160108-BG-release.zip (offline)

VEM550-201308160108-BG (Online)

5.5

5.5

5.5

5.5
VMware software version: ESXi 5.1(includes patches and updates)

cross_cisco-vem-v160-4.2.1.2.2.1.0-3.1.1.vib

VEM510-201306160101-BG-release.zip

(Offline)

VEM510-201306160101-BG(Online)

5.1

5.1

5.1

5.1
VMware software version: ESXi 5.0 (includes patches and updates)

cross_cisco-vem-v160-4.2.1.2.2.1.0-3.0.1.vib

VEM500-201306160100-BG-release.zip

(offline)

VEM500-201306160100-BG(Online)

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

4.Do not install VMware vSphere 5.5 Patch 2702864 with Cisco Nexus 1000V. The VMware vSphere 5.5 Patch 2702864 is not supported on Cisco Nexus 1000V.

VMware Version Compatibility

Important Customer Update

In order to improve customer support for the Cisco Nexus 1000V, Cisco now only updates the support matrix for major and minor releases from VMware. All VMware patch and update releases are automatically supported at the time of their release. VMware guarantees compatibility with all patches and updates, and customers are not required to check the matrix for VMware patch or update support.

Table 3 lists the vShield Manager/VCNS compatibility version for Cisco Nexus 1000V.

 

Table 3 vShield Manager/VCNS Version Compatibility for Cisco Nexus 1000V
VMware Software Version
Cisco Nexus 1000V Version
4.2(1)SV2(2.1)

VCNS 5.5

Compatible

VCNS 5.1

Compatible

VCNS 5.1.3 upgrade is not supported. However, VCNS 5.1.3 fresh install using ova package is supported. See the KB article – KB 2073502.

vShield Manager 5.0.2

Compatible

Table 4 lists the vCloud Director Version Compatibility for Cisco Nexus 1000V.

 

Table 4 vCloud Director Version Compatibility for Cisco Nexus 1000V
VMware Software Version
Cisco Nexus 1000V Version
4.2(1)SV2(2.1)

vCD 5.5

Compatible

vCD 5.1

Compatible

vCD 1.5.1

Compatible

Note Cisco Nexus 1000V Release 4.2(1)SV2(2.1) does not support any earlier versions of the VMware components listed in the preceding table.

Note For vCloud Director and VCNS compatibility, see VMware Product Interoperability Matrixes.

Table 5 lists the supported network pool in vCD with Cisco Nexus 1000V.

 

Table 5 Supported Network Pool in vCloud Director with Cisco Nexus 1000V

VMware Software Version
Network Pool in vCD
Description
Cisco Nexus 1000V Version
4.2(1)SV2(2.1)
4.2(1)SV2(1.1a)
4.2(1)SV2(1.1)

vCD 1.5.1 and vShield Manager 5.0.1

Port Group Backed

Export group is a network

Supported

Supported

Supported

VLAN Backed

Can specify a range of VLANs in a vCD

Supported

Supported

Supported

Network Isolation Backed

Cisco Nexus 1000V uses VXLAN for isolation-backed networks

Supported

Supported

Supported

vCD 5.1 and vShield Manager 5.1

Port Group Backed

Export group is a network

Supported

Supported

Supported

VLAN Backed

Can specify a range of VLANs in a vCD

Supported

Supported

Supported

Network Isolation Backed

VMware uses VCNI for isolation backed networks

Not supported

Not supported

Not supported

VXLAN

Cisco Nexus 1000V uses VXLAN for isolation backed networks

Supported

Supported

Supported

vCD 5.5 and vShield Manager 5.5

Port Group Backed

Export group is a network

Supported

Not supported

Not supported

VLAN Backed

Can specify a range of VLANs in a vCD

Supported

Not supported

Not supported

Network Isolation Backed

VMware uses VCNI for isolation backed networks

Not supported

Not supported

Not supported

VXLAN

Cisco Nexus 1000V uses VXLAN for isolation backed networks

Supported

Not supported

Not supported

Related Documentation

This section lists the documents used with the Cisco Nexus 1000 and available at the following URL:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps9902/tsd_products_support_series_home.html

General Information

Cisco Nexus 1000V Documentation Roadmap

Cisco Nexus 1000V Release Notes

Cisco Nexus 1000V Compatibility Information

Install and Upgrade

Cisco Nexus 1000V Installation and Upgrade Guide

Configuration Guides

Cisco Nexus 1000V High Availability and Redundancy Configuration Guide

Cisco Nexus 1000V Interface Configuration Guide

Cisco Nexus 1000V Layer 2 Switching Configuration Guide

Cisco Nexus 1000V License Configuration Guide

Cisco Nexus 1000V Network Segmentation Manager Configuration Guide

Cisco Nexus 1000V Port Profile Configuration Guide

Cisco Nexus 1000V Quality of Service Configuration Guide

Cisco Nexus 1000V REST API Plug-in Configuration Guide

Cisco Nexus 1000V Security Configuration Guide

Cisco Nexus 1000V System Management Configuration Guide

Cisco Nexus 1000V vCenter Plugin Configuration Guide

Cisco Nexus 1000V VXLAN Configuration Guide

Programming Guide

Cisco Nexus 1000V XML API User Guide

Reference Guides

Cisco Nexus 1000V Command Reference

Cisco Nexus 1000V MIB Quick Reference

Cisco Nexus 1000V Resource Availability Reference

Troubleshooting, Password Recovery, System Messages Guides

Cisco Nexus 1000V Troubleshooting Guide

Cisco Nexus 1000V Password Recovery Guide

Cisco NX-OS System Messages Reference

Virtual Services Appliance Documentation

The Cisco Nexus Virtual Services Appliance (VSA) documentation is available at

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps9902/tsd_products_support_series_home.html

Virtual Security Gateway Documentation

The Cisco Virtual Security Gateway documentation is available at

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps13095/tsd_products_support_series_home.html

Virtual Network Management Center

The Cisco Virtual Network Management Center documentation is available at

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps11213/tsd_products_support_series_home.html

Virtual Wide Area Application Services (vWAAS)

The Virtual Wide Area Application Services documentation is available at

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6870/tsd_products_support_series_home.html

ASA 1000V Cloud Firewall

The ASA 1000V Cloud Firewall documentation is available at

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps12233/tsd_products_support_series_home.html

Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request

For information on obtaining documentation, submitting a service request, and gathering additional information, see What’s New in Cisco Product Documentation at: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/general/whatsnew/whatsnew.html.

Subscribe to What’s New in Cisco Product Documentation, which lists all new and revised Cisco technical documentation, as an RSS feed and deliver content directly to your desktop using a reader application. The RSS feeds are a free service.

This document is to be used in conjunction with the documents listed in the “Related Documentation” section.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. To view a list of Cisco trademarks, go to this URL: www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R)

Internet Protocol (IP) addresses that are used in the examples, command display output, and figures within this document are for illustration only. If an actual IP address appears in this document, it is coincidental.

© 2013 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Was this Document Helpful?

FeedbackFeedback

Contact Cisco

This Document Applies to These Products