Historically, vSphere Replication was bundled closely with the vSphere releases. However, as VMware transitioned its licensing and release cadence, VR began to ship as a separate downloadable appliance, distinct from the core vCenter ISO.
To ensure your Disaster Recovery remains robust, adhere to these version management principles:
Caveats and Limitations * In a federated environment with linked vCenter Server instances, when you log in to the REST API gateway... Broadcom TechDocs Show all Source Version Target Version Upgrade Method 8.7.x or 8.8.x 9.0 ISO file and VRMS Appliance Management Interface (VAMI) . Pre-8.7 versions 9.0 Cannot upgrade directly via VAMI; requires intermediate upgrades. 8.8 or 9.0 9.0 Cross-vCenter replication is supported if the target site is 8.8 or 9.0. Operational Limits by Version Legacy (Pre-9.0) vsphere replication versions
Now primarily bundled with VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF) and VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) following Broadcom’s licensing changes. 2. vSphere Replication 8.x: Stability and Scale
When vSphere 7.0 launched, there was a brief period of confusion regarding compatibility. Broadcom TechDocs Show all Source Version Target Version
vSphere Replication remains one of the most cost-effective DR tools in the VMware ecosystem, but it demands respect regarding version control. The shift from the 6.x branch to the 8.x branch represents a move toward tighter security, better scalability, and hybrid cloud readiness.
For many years, the 6.x branch was the standard. Versions like and 6.6.x were staples in data centers running vSphere 6.5 and 6.7. Operational Limits by Version Legacy (Pre-9
| vSphere Replication Version | Release Date | Compatible vSphere Versions | Key Notes | |-----------------------------|--------------|-----------------------------|------------| | | Apr 2025 | 8.0 U3, 8.0 U2, 7.0 U3 | Latest release; supports configuration max of 2000 VMs per VR server, improved large-scale recovery. | | 8.7 | Sep 2024 | 8.0 U2, 8.0 U1, 7.0 U3 | Added support for TPM-protected VMs (vTPM), replication checksum improvements. | | 8.6 | Mar 2024 | 8.0 U1, 8.0, 7.0 U3 | Performance improvements for re-sync after network interruption. | | 8.5 | Oct 2023 | 8.0, 7.0 U3 | Initial 8.0-aligned version; introduces multi-tenant replication via Project Pacific (TKGs). | | 8.4 | Mar 2023 | 7.0 U3, 7.0 U2 | Enhanced RPO (5 min default, down to 1 min for supported workloads). | | 8.3 | Oct 2021 | 7.0 U2, 7.0 U1 | Added replication for NVMe-based VMs. | | 8.2 | Mar 2021 | 7.0 U1, 7.0 | Support for vSphere with Tanzu guest clusters. | | 8.1 | Sep 2020 | 7.0 | Initial vSphere 7.0 release; VR appliance based on Photon OS 3.0. | | 8.0 | Mar 2020 | 7.0 | First version for vSphere 7.0; major UI integration with HTML5 vSphere Client. | | 6.5 | Nov 2016 | 6.5, 6.0 | Cross-vCenter replication, improved scale (2000 VMs). | | 6.1 | Sep 2015 | 6.0 | First standalone appliance (VRMS), replacing Windows-based VR server. | | 5.8 | Mar 2015 | 5.8, 5.5 | Last version supporting vSphere 5.x. |
Versions in the 8.x range are commonly used in environments running vSphere 7.0 and 8.0. VMware Licensing Has Changed: What's Next for You - HBS
In 2016, VMware released vSphere Replication 6.5, which offered: