HP Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager Software - Manual (Page 17)

Figure 5 VC Domain compatibility support
In each case, the newer versions of VC will behave functionally like the oldest version of firmware
running on any VC Domain in the VC Domain Group. No features beyond those that are supported
by the oldest version of VC firmware in the VC Domain Group can be enabled on any of the VC
Domains in the VC Domain Group even if they are running a newer version of VC firmware. A
benefit of compatibility support is that installing the newer version of VC firmware makes available
any bug fixes that it contains.
Table 3 shows the versions of VC firmware that can be managed by recent versions of VCEM
whether using full support or compatibility support
Table 3 VCEM VC firmware version full or compatibility support
Compatibility supported VC versions Fully supported VC versions VCEM Version
3.3x, 3.5x, 3.6x 2.1x, 2.3x, 3.0x, 3.10, 3.15, 3.17,
3.18 6.1
3.5x, 3.6x, 3.7x 1, 2 2.1x, 2.3x, 3.0x, 3.10, 3.15, 3.17,
3.18, 3.3x 6.3u1
3.5x, 3.6x, 3.7x 1, 2 2.1x, 2.3x, 3.0x, 3.10, 3.15, 3.17,
3.18, 3.3x 7.0
3.7x
1, 2
3.15, 3.17, 3.18, 3.3x, 3.5x, 3.6x 7.1
Will be determined based on future
releases of VC firmware 3.3x, 3.5x, 3.6x, 3.7x 7.1.1
1
VC 3.7x requires that expanded VLAN capacity is enabled for a VC Domain Group before the 3.7x VC Domain can
be brought into it. VC Domains running 3.7x cannot be brought into VC Domain Groups configured for legacy VLAN
support.
2
3.7x will work in compatibility mode for VCEM 6.3u1, 7.0 and 7.1 (see Table 3 above) only if the group firmware
mode is greater than 3.15.
The ability to run a mix of VC firmware versions in a VC Domain Group is based on the “group
firmware mode”. This designates the functional level at which all the VC Domains in the VC Domain
Group behave. The group firmware mode is dictated by the oldest version of firmware of any VC
domain in the VC Domain Group. After upgrading the VC firmware, the administrator can decide
when to upgrade the group firmware mode. Once the group firmware mode has been updated,
the administrator can enable new features for the VC domains in the VC Domain Group. VC
Domains join the VC Domain Group at the group firmware level. A VC Domain is not allowed to
join the VC Domain Group if it has any features enabled beyond the features supported by the
group firmware mode.
Understanding VCEM and VC firmware version compatibility 17