You can set the default compatibility for virtual machine creation on the host, cluster, or data center. These options ensure that when virtual machines are added to an existing vSphere environment, they are compatible with the host versions that reside there.

The following conditions apply:

  • To set the default compatibility on the cluster, the cluster must contain hosts that are connected and not in maintenance mode.
  • A default compatibility setting on the host overrides a default cluster or data center setting.
  • A default compatibility setting on the cluster overrides a default data center setting.

Prerequisites

Required privileges:
  • On the host or cluster: Host.Inventory.Modify cluster
  • On the data center: Datacenter.Reconfigure datacenter

Procedure

  • ♦ Select a host, cluster, or data center in the inventory.
    Option Action
    Host
    1. Click the Configure tab, and under Virtual Machines, select Default VM Compatibility.
    2. Click Edit.

      The Edit Default VM Compatibility dialog box opens.

    3. From the Compatible with drop-down menu, select the compatibility and click OK.
    Note: You can set the compatibility only on hosts that are not part of a cluster.
    Cluster
    1. Click the Configure tab and under Configuration, select General.
    2. In the Default VM Compatibility section, click Edit.
    3. From the Compatible with drop-down menu, select the compatibility and click OK.

    When you change the compatibility for a cluster, the compatibility for all hosts in the cluster changes as well.

    Data Center
    1. Right-click the data center and select Edit Default VM Compatibility.
    2. From the Compatible with drop-down menu, select the compatibility and click OK.
    Important: You can set a default compatibility setting on a data center only in the vSphere Web Client.

Results

When you create a virtual machine on one of these objects, the default compatibility setting is used.