Cisco HX Obsolete Releases - Software Requirements

Recommended FI/Server Firmware - Obsolete Releases

The HX components—Cisco HX Data Platform Installer, Cisco HX Data Platform, and Cisco UCS firmware—are installed on different servers. Verify that each component on each server used with and within an HX Storage Cluster are compatible.

  • HyperFlex does not support UCS Manager and UCS Server Firmware versions 4.0(4a), 4.0(4b), and 4.0(4c).


    Important

    Do not upgrade to these versions of firmware.

    Do not upgrade to these versions of UCS Manager.

  • Verify that the preconfigured HX servers have the same version of Cisco UCS server firmware installed. If the Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnects (FI) firmware versions are different, see the Cisco HyperFlex Systems Upgrade Guide for steps to align the firmware versions.

    • M4: For NEW hybrid or All Flash (Cisco HyperFlex HX240c M4 or HX220c M4) deployments, verify that Cisco UCS Manager 3.1(3k), 3.2(3i), or 4.0(2b) or higher is installed. For more information, see Recommended Cisco HyperFlex HX Data Platform Software Releases.

    • M5: For NEW hybrid or All Flash (Cisco HyperFlex HX240c M5 or HX220c M5) deployments, verify that the recommended UCS firmware version is installed.


      Note

      For SED-based HyperFlex systems, ensure that the A (Infrastructure), B (Blade server) and C (Rack server) bundles are at Cisco UCS Manager version 4.0(2b) or later for all SED M4/M5 systems. For more details, see CSCvh04307.

      For SED-based HyperFlex systems, also ensure that all clusters are at HyperFlex Release 3.5(2b) or later. For more information, see Field Notice (70234) and CSCvk17250.

    • To reinstall an HX server, download supported and compatible versions of the software. See the Cisco HyperFlex Systems Installation Guide for VMware ESXi for the requirements and steps.

  • UCS Server Firmware 4.1(2a) and 4.1(2c) are not supported on clusters with self-encrypting drives (SED). See CSCvv69704.


Important
For Intersight edge servers running older than 4.0(1a) CIMC version, HUU is the suggested mechanism to update the firmware.

Please review the Release Notes related to the recommended FI/Server Firmware.

Table 1. HyperFlex Software Versions for M4/M5 Servers

Release

M4 Recommended FI/Server Firmware

*(be sure to review important note)

M5 Recommended FI/Server Firmware

*(be sure to review important note)

M4/M5 Qualified FI/Server Firmware

*(be sure to review important note)

5.0(1x)

See qualified list

See qualified list

4.0(4k), 4.0(4m)

4.1(1e), 4.1(2a), 4.1(2c), 4.1(3b), 4.1(3e), 4.1(3f), 4.1(3h), 4.1(3i), 4.1(3j)

4.2(1f), 4.2(1i), 4.2(1m), 4.2(1n)

4.5(2e)

See qualified list

See qualified list

4.0(4k), 4.0(4m), 4.1(1e), 4.1(2a)*, 4.1(2c)*, 4.1(3e), 4.1(3f), 4.1(3h), 4.1(3i), 4.2(1f), 4.2(1i), 4.2(1m), 4.2(1n)

4.5(2d)

See qualified list

See qualified list

4.0(4k), 4.0(4m), 4.1(1e), 4.1(2a)*, 4.1(2c)*, 4.1(3e), 4.1(3f), 4.1(3h), 4.1(3i), 4.2(1f), 4.2(1i), 4.2(1m), 4.2(1n)

4.5(2c)

See qualified list

See qualified list

4.0(4k), 4.0(4m), 4.1(1e), 4.1(2a)*, 4.1(2c)*, 4.1(3e), 4.1(3f), 4.1(3h), 4.1(3i), 4.2(1f), 4.2(1i), 4.2(1m), 4.2(1n)

4.5(2b)

See qualified list

See qualified list

4.0(4k), 4.0(4m), 4.1(1e), 4.1(2a)*, 4.1(2c)*, 4.1(3e), 4.1(3f), 4.1(3h), 4.1(3i), 4.2(1f), 4.2(1i), 4.2(1m), 4.2(1n)

4.5(2a)

See qualified list

See qualified list

4.0(4k), 4.0(4m), 4.1(1e), 4.1(2a)*, 4.1(2c)*, 4.1(3e), 4.1(3f), 4.1(3h), 4.1(3i), 4.2(1f), 4.2(1i), 4.2(1m), 4.2(1n)

4.5(1a)

See qualified list

See qualified list

4.0(4l), 4.1(1e), 4.1(2c)*, 4.1(3e), 4.1(3f), 4.1(3i)

4.0(2f)

See qualified list

See qualified list

4.0(4i), 4.0(4k), 4.0(4l), 4.0(4m), 4.1(1d), 4.1(1e), 4.1(2a)*, 4.1(2c)*, 4.1(3d), 4.1(3e), 4.1(3f), 4.1(3h)

4.0(2e)

See qualified list

See qualified list

4.0(4i), 4.0(4k), 4.0(4l), 4.0(4m), 4.1(1d), 4.1(1e), 4.1(2a)*, 4.1(2c)*, 4.1(3d), 4.1(3e), 4.1(3h)

4.0(2d)

See qualified list

See qualified list

4.0(4i), 4.0(4k), 4.0(4l), 4.0(4m), 4.1(1d), 4.1(1e), 4.1(2a)*, 4.1(2c)*, 4.1(3d), 4.1(3e), 4.1(3h)

4.0(2c)

See qualified list

See qualified list

4.0(4i), 4.0(4k), 4.0(4l), 4.0(4m), 4.1(1d), 4.1(1e), 4.1(2a)*, 4.1(2c)*, 4.1(3h)

4.0(2b)

See qualified list

See qualified list

4.0(4i), 4.0(4k), 4.0(4l), 4.0(4m), 4.1(1d), 4.1(1e), 4.1(2a)*, 4.1(2c)*, 4.1(3h)

4.0(2a)

See qualified list

See qualified list

4.0(4i), 4.0(4k), 4.0(4l), 4.0(4m), 4.1(1d), 4.1(1e), 4.1(2c)*, 4.1(3h)

4.0(1b) - Unsupported

See qualified list

See qualified list

4.0(4i)

4.0(1a) - Unsupported

-

-

-

3.5(2i)

4.0(4k)

4.0(4k)

4.0(4k), 4.0(4l), 4.1(1d), 4.1(1e), 4.1(2a)*, 4.1(2b)*, 4.1(2c), 4.1(3b), 4.1(3c)

3.5(2h)

4.0(4k)

4.0(4k)

4.0(4k), 4.0(4l), 4.1(1d), 4.1(1e), 4.1(2a)*, 4.1(2b)*, 4.1(2c), 4.1(3b)

3.5(2g)

4.0(4k)

4.0(4k)

4.0(4h), 4.1(1d), 4.1(1e), 4.1(3b)

3.5(2f)

4.0(4e)

4.0(4e)

4.0(4d)1, 4.0(4e)2, 4.1(3b)

3.5(2e)

4.0(4e)

4.0(4e)

4.0(4g), 4.1(3b)

3.5(2d)

4.0(4e)

4.0(4e)

4.1(3b)

3.5(2c)

Release Deferred

3.5(2b)

4.0(2d), 3.2(3i), 3.1(3k)

4.0(2d)

4.1(3b)

3.5(2a)

4.0(1c), 3.2(3i), 3.1(3k)

4.0(1c)

4.1(3b)

3.5(1a) - Unsupported

4.0(1b), 3.2(3h), 3.1(3j)

4.0(1a)

2.6(1c)

3.2(3d), 3.1(3f)

3.2(3d)

2.6(1d)

3.2(3d), 3.1(3c)

3.2(3d)

2.6(1b)

3.2(2d), 3.1(3c)

3.2(2d)

2.6(1a)

3.2(2d), 3.1(3c)

3.2(2d)
1 4.0(4d) qualified only for M5.
2 4.0(4e) qualified only for M5.

HX Data Platform Software Versions for HyperFlex Witness Node for Stretch Cluster - Obsolete Releases

Table 2. HX Data Platform Software Versions for HyperFlex Witness Node for Stretch Cluster

HyperFlex Release

Witness Node Version

5.0(1x)

1.1.3

4.5(2e)

1.1.3

4.0(2f)

1.1.1

4.5(2d)

1.1.3

4.5(2c)

1.1.3

4.5(2b)

1.1.3

4.5(2a)

1.1.2, 1.1.33

4.5(1a)

1.1.1

4.0(2e)

1.1.1

4.0(2d)

1.0.10

4.0(2c)

1.0.9

4.0(2b)

1.0.8

4.0(2a)

1.0.8

4.0(1b) - Unsupported

1.0.4

4.0(1a) -Unsupported

1.0.4

3.5(2i)

1.0.9

3.5(2h)

1.0.8

3.5(2g)

1.0.6

3.5(2f)

1.0.6

3.5(2e)

1.0.4

3.5(2d)

1.0.3

3.5(2c)

Release Deferred

3.5(2b)

1.0.3

3.5(2a)

1.0.3

3.5(1a) - Unsupported

1.0.2

3.0(1x)

1.0.1
3 1.1.3 is the preferred Witness Node version for HX 4.5(2a).

Note

Older versions of witness VMs are supported when the cluster is upgraded to the latest HXDP version.

Software Requirements for VMware ESXi - Obsolete Releases

The software requirements include verification that you are using compatible versions of Cisco HyperFlex Systems (HX) components and VMware vSphere, VMware vCenter, and VMware ESXi.

  • Verify that all HX servers have a compatible version of vSphere preinstalled.

  • Verify that the vCenter version is the same or later than the ESXi version.

  • Verify that the vCenter and ESXi versions are compatible by consulting the VMware Product Interoperability Matrix. Newer vCenter versions may be used with older ESXi versions, so long as both ESXi and vCenter are supported in the table below.

  • Verify that you have a vCenter administrator account with root-level privileges and the associated password.


    Note
    For VIC1457, there is no support for ESXi 6.0.
The following table applies for all of the following VMware vSphere Editions: Enterprise, Enterprise Plus, Standard, Essentials Plus, ROBO.
Table 3. Software Requirements for VMware ESXi

Version

VMware ESXi Versions

VMware vCenter Versions

5.0(1x)

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3, 7.0 U2

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3, 7.0 U2, 7.0 U3

4.5(2e)

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3, 7.0 U24, 7.0 U3

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3,5 7.0 U2, 7.0 U3

4.5(2d)

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3, 7.0 U26, 7.0 U3

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3,7 7.0 U2, 7.0 U3

4.5(2c)

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3, 7.0 U28, 7.0 U3

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3,9 7.0 U2, 7.0 U3

4.5(2b)

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3, 7.0 U210
6.5 U3, 6.7 U3,11 7.0 U2, 7.0 U312

4.5(2a)

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3, 7.0 U1c (build 17325551) through 7.0 U1d (build 17551050) - See limitations: 4, 7.0 U213
6.5 U3, 6.7 U3, 7.0 U1c (build 17327517) through 7.0 U1d (build 17491101)14

7.0 U2

4.5(1a)

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3, 7.0 U1c (build 17325551) through 7.0 U1d (build 17551050)15 16

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3, 7.0 U1c (build 17327517) through 7.0 U1d (build 17491101) - See limitations: 3,

7.0 U217

4.0(2f)

6.5 U3, and 6.7 U3

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3 and 7.0 U2

See limitations: 18

4.0(2e)

6.5 U3, and 6.7 U3

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3,

7.0 U1c (build 17327517) through 7.0 U1d (build 17491101), and 7.0 U2 - See 4.0(2f) limitation footnote

4.0(2d)

6.5 U3, and

6.7 U3 up to build 17098360

See limitations:19

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3 and

7.0 U1c (build 17327517) through 7.0 U1d (build 17491101), and 7.0 U2 - See 4.0(2f) limitation footnote

4.0(2c)

6.5 U3, and

6.7 U3 up to build 17098360

See 4.0(2f) limitation footnote

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3 and

7.0 U1c (build 17327517) through 7.0 U1d (build 17491101), and 7.0 U2 - See 4.0(2f) limitations

4.0(2b)

6.5 U3, and 6.7 U3 up to build 17098360

See 4.0(2f) limitation footnote

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3

4.0(2a)

6.5 U3, and 6.7 U3 up to build 17098360

See 4.0(2f) limitation footnote

6.5 U3, 6.7 U3

4.0(1b) - Unsupported

6.5 U3, 6.7 U220

6.5 U3, 6.7 U2

4.0(1a) - Unsupported

6.5 U2, 6.7 U2

6.5 U2, 6.7 U2

3.5(2i)

6.0 U3, 6.5 U3, and

6.7 U3 up to build 17098360 - See limitations:21

6.0 U3, 6.5 U3, 6.7 U3

3.5(2h)

6.0 U3, 6.5 U3, and

6.7 U3 up to build 17098360 - See limitations:4

6.0 U3, 6.5 U3, 6.7 U3

3.5(2g)

6.0 U3, 6.5 U3, and

6.7 U3 up to build 17098360 - See limitations:4

6.0 U3, 6.5 U3, 6.7 U3

3.5(2f)

6.0 U3, 6.5 U2, 6.7 U222

6.0 U3, 6.5 U2, 6.7 U2

3.5(2e)

6.0 U3, 6.5 U2, 6.7 U223

6.0 U3, 6.5 U2, 6.7 U2

3.5(2d)

6.0 U3, 6.5 U2, 6.7 U224

6.0 U3, 6.5 U2, 6.7 U2

3.5(2c)

Release Deferred

3.5(2b)

6.0 U3, 6.5 U2, 6.7 U1 25, 6.7 U226 27

6.0 U3, 6. 5U2, 6.7 U1, 6.7 U2

3.5(2a)

6.0 U3, 6.5 U2, 6.7 U128

6.0 U3, 6.5 U2, 6.7 U1

3.5(1a) - Unsupported

6.0 U3, 6.5 U1, 6.5 U2

6.0 U3, 6.5 U1, 6.5 U2, 6.7 U129

2.6(1e)

6.0 U1b, 6.0 U2, 6.0 U2 Patch 3, 6.0 U3, 6.5 U1

6.0 U1/U2/U3, 6.5 U1

2.6(1d)

6.0 U1b, 6.0 U2, 6.0 U2 Patch 3, 6.0 U3, 6.5 U1

6.0 U1/U2/U3, 6.5 U1

2.6(1b)

6.0 U1b, 6.0 U2, 6.0 U2 Patch 3,6.0 U3, 6.5 U1

6.0 U1/U2/U3, 6.5 U1

2.6(1a)

6.0 U1b, 6.0 U2, 6.0 U2 Patch 3, 6.0 U3, 6.5 U1

6.0 U1/U2/U3, 6.5 U1
4 ESXi 7.0 U2 is not supported on HyperFlex clusters running older Intel CPUs. See CSCvy84658 for more information.
5 Care should be taken to use the minimum vCenter 7.0 version listed in the table. VMware vCenter 7.0 versions prior to 7.0 U1c are susceptible to a software interoperability issue. For more information, see Field Notice: FN - 70620. When using vCenter 7.0 U1 or later with a 4.5 HXDP cluster, the following limitation applies:

  • vCenter Server 7.0 U1 and later utilizes vCLS cluster VMs. These VMs must reside on a shared non-replicated HX datastore to ensure smooth upgrade operations. If the vCLS VMs reside on local storage, storage vMotion them to a shared non-replicated HX datastore before attempting upgrade. See VMware documentation for full details.

6 ESXi 7.0 U2 is not supported on HyperFlex clusters running older Intel CPUs. See CSCvy84658 for more information.
7 Care should be taken to use the minimum vCenter 7.0 version listed in the table. VMware vCenter 7.0 versions prior to 7.0 U1c are susceptible to a software interoperability issue. For more information, see Field Notice: FN - 70620. When using vCenter 7.0 U1 or later with a 4.5 HXDP cluster, the following limitation applies:

  • vCenter Server 7.0 U1 and later utilizes vCLS cluster VMs. These VMs must reside on a shared non-replicated HX datastore to ensure smooth upgrade operations. If the vCLS VMs reside on local storage, storage vMotion them to a shared non-replicated HX datastore before attempting upgrade. See VMware documentation for full details.

8 ESXi 7.0 U2 is not supported on HyperFlex clusters running older Intel CPUs. See CSCvy84658 for more information.
9 Care should be taken to use the minimum vCenter 7.0 version listed in the table. VMware vCenter 7.0 versions prior to 7.0 U1c are susceptible to a software interoperability issue. For more information, see Field Notice: FN - 70620. When using vCenter 7.0 U1 or later with a 4.5 HXDP cluster, the following limitation applies:

  • vCenter Server 7.0 U1 and later utilizes vCLS cluster VMs. These VMs must reside on a shared non-replicated HX datastore to ensure smooth upgrade operations. If the vCLS VMs reside on local storage, storage vMotion them to a shared non-replicated HX datastore before attempting upgrade. See VMware documentation for full details.

10 ESXi 7.0 U2 is not supported on HyperFlex clusters running older Intel CPUs. See CSCvy84658 for more information.
11 Care should be taken to use the minimum vCenter 7.0 version listed in the table. VMware vCenter 7.0 versions prior to 7.0 U1c are susceptible to a software interoperability issue. For more information, see Field Notice: FN - 70620. When using vCenter 7.0 U1 or later with a 4.5 HXDP cluster, the following limitation applies:

  • vCenter Server 7.0 U1 and later utilizes vCLS cluster VMs. These VMs must reside on a shared non-replicated HX datastore to ensure smooth upgrade operations. If the vCLS VMs reside on local storage, storage vMotion them to a shared non-replicated HX datastore before attempting upgrade. See VMware documentation for full details.

12 Only HXDP version 4.5(2b) supports vCenter 7.0 U3. ESXi 7.0 U3 is not supported with HXDP version 4.5(2b). Refer to the table above for ESXi 7.0 U3 support details.
13 ESXi 7.0 U2 is not supported on HyperFlex clusters running older Intel CPUs. See CSCvy84658 for more information.
14 Care should be taken to use the minimum vCenter 7.0 version listed in the table. VMware vCenter 7.0 versions prior to 7.0 U1c are susceptible to a software interoperability issue. For more information, see Field Notice: FN - 70620. When using vCenter 7.0 U1 or later with a 4.5 HXDP cluster, the following limitation applies:

  • vCenter Server 7.0 U1 and later utilizes vCLS cluster VMs. These VMs must reside on a shared non-replicated HX datastore to ensure smooth upgrade operations. If the vCLS VMs reside on local storage, storage vMotion them to a shared non-replicated HX datastore before attempting upgrade. See VMware documentation for full details.

15 Upgrades to ESXi 7.0 U1 and U2 are not recommended on servers booting from SD cards. For more information, see VMware KB 83376.
16 Fresh HyperFlex Edge installation with ESXi 7.0 is not supported using the OVA installer. Use the Intersight installer or deploy with ESXi 6.5/6.7 and upgrade to 7.0 after installation.
17 When using vCenter 7.0 U2 with a 4.5(1a) HXDP cluster, the following limitations apply:

Note

 

These limitation do not apply to 4.5(2a) and later.

  • Fresh Installation cannot be performed with vCenter 7.0 U2. Clusters may be deployed without vCenter initially and then subsequently registered to vCenter Server. Clusters must be registered to a vCenter server before entering production.

  • Cluster expansion (converged & compute only) cannot be performed with vCenter 7.0 U2. Reregister the cluster to a vCenter Server 6.x before cluster expansion is attempted.

18 For HX releases 4.0(2f), 4.0(2e), 4.0(2d), and 4.0(2c) care should be taken to use the minimum vCenter 7.0 version listed in the table. Prior to 7.0 U1 vCenter versions are susceptible to a software interoperability issue (see Field Notice: FN - 70620). When using vCenter 7.0 U1 or 7.0 U2 with a 4.0(2a) through 4.0(2d) HXDP cluster, the following limitations apply. These limitations do not apply with 4.0(2e) and later.

  • Fresh Installation cannot be performed with vCenter 7.0 U1 or 7.0 U2. Clusters may be deployed without vCenter initially and then subsequently registered to vCenter Server. Clusters must be registered to a vCenter server before entering production.

  • Cluster expansion (converged & compute only) cannot be performed with vCenter 7.0 U1 or 7.0 U2. Reregister the cluster to a vCenter Server 6.x before cluster expansion is attempted.

  • vCenter Server 7.0 U1 and later utilizes vCLS cluster VMs. These VMs must reside on a shared HX datastore to ensure smooth upgrade operations. If the vCLS VMs reside on local storage, storage vMotion them to a shared HX datastore before attempting upgrade. See VMware documentation for full details .

19 ESXi 6.7 U3 P04 (Build 17167734) or later is not supported with HXDP 4.0(2a) through 4.0(2d). See SSH Incompatibility with ESXi 6.7P04 Tech Note for further details.
20 Use of 6.7 U2 for unsupported releases 4.0(1b) and 4.0(1a) is not recommended, see Software Advisory for Cisco HyperFlex Stretched Cluster Operations, Release 4.0(1a) for further details.
21 ESXi 6.7 U3 P04 (Build 17167734) or later is not currently supported with HXDP 3.5(2). For further details, see SSH Incompatibility with ESXi 6.7P04 Tech Note.
22 Use of 6.7 U2 is not recommended, see Software Advisory for HX Release 3.5(2f) for further details.
23 Use of 6.7 U2 is not recommended, see Software Advisory for HX Release 3.5(2e) for further details.
24 Use of 6.7 U2 is not recommended, see Software Advisory for HX Release 3.5(2d) for further details.
25 Use of 6.7 U1 is not recommended, see software advisory for CSCvo56350 for further details.
26 For the 3.5(2b) release, cluster installation must first be performed with 6.0 U3 or 6.5U2. After cluster deployment, you may upgrade to 6.7 U2 using the Zip bundle available for download on Cisco.com. See the Upgrade Guide for detailed ESXi upgrade procedures. Existing clusters upgraded to 3.5(2b) may upgrade ESXi to 6.7 U2 at any time.
27 Use of 6.7 U2 is not recommended, see Software Advisory for HX Release 3.5(2b) for further details.
28 Use of 6.7 U1 is not recommended, see software advisory for CSCvo56350 for further details.
29 For the 3.5(1a) release, use of vCenter 6.7U1 is supported only with the ESXi 6.0 and 6.5 versions listed.

Note
For vSphere 6.0 users. VMware’s last day of general support for vSphere 6.0 occurred on March 12, 2020. HXDP will continue to support vSphere 6.0 U3 on both 3.5(2) and 4.0(2) long lived releases. However, no bug or security fixes will be provided by VMware or Cisco for ESXi going forward due to reaching the last day of support. Cisco TAC will continue to support customers to the best of their ability on ESXi 6.0 builds that have already been released. Cisco strongly recommends upgrading as soon as possible to a supported VMware vSphere 6.5 or 6.7 release and follow Cisco’s recommendations as outlined in Recommended Cisco HyperFlex HX Data Platform Software Releases - for Cisco HyperFlex HX-Series Systems.