Patching
The Master List: VMware vCenter Release & Build Number History (Updated 2026) | Lazy Admin Blog
Version tracking is the backbone of lifecycle management. Whether you are patching against the latest security vulnerability or verifying compatibility for a backup agent, you need the exact build number.
Below is the comprehensive history of vCenter Server, from the cutting-edge vSphere 9.0 down to the legacy VirtualCenter 2.5.
vCenter Server 9.0 Build Numbers (Latest)
vSphere 9.0 represents the latest shift toward AI-integrated infrastructure and cloud-native operations.
| Name | Version | Release Date | Build Number |
| vCenter Server 9.0.2.0 | 9.0.2 | 01/20/2026 | 25148086 |
| vCenter Server 9.0.1.0 | 9.0.1 | 09/29/2025 | 24957454 |
| vCenter Server 9.0 GA | 9.0.0 | 06/17/2025 | 24755230 |
vCenter Server 8.0 Build Numbers
The 8.0 Update 3 branch is the current stable “workhorse” for most enterprise environments.
| Name | Version | Release Date | Build Number |
| vCenter Server 8.0 Update 3i | 8.0.3.00800 | 02/24/2026 | 25197330 |
| vCenter Server 8.0 Update 3h | 8.0.3.00700 | 12/15/2025 | 25092719 |
| vCenter Server 8.0 Update 3g | 8.0.3.00600 | 07/29/2025 | 24853646 |
| vCenter Server 8.0 Update 3e | 8.0.3.00500 | 04/11/2025 | 24674346 |
| vCenter Server 8.0 Update 3 | 8.0.3.00000 | 06/25/2024 | 24022515 |
| vCenter Server 8.0 Update 2 | 8.0.2.00000 | 09/21/2023 | 22385739 |
| vCenter Server 8.0 Update 1 | 8.0.1.00000 | 04/18/2023 | 21560480 |
| vCenter Server 8.0 GA | 8.0.0.10000 | 10/11/2022 | 20519528 |
vCenter Server 7.0 Build Numbers
Note: vCenter for Windows was officially removed starting with version 7.0.
| Name | Version | Release Date | Build Number |
| vCenter Server 7.0 Update 3w | 7.0.3.02500 | 09/29/2025 | 24927011 |
| vCenter Server 7.0 Update 3l | 7.0.3.01400 | 03/30/2023 | 21477706 |
| vCenter Server 7.0 Update 2 | 7.0.2.00000 | 03/09/2021 | 17694817 |
| vCenter Server 7.0 GA | 7.0.0.10100 | 04/02/2020 | 15952498 |
Legacy vCenter Server Build Numbers (vSphere 4.0 – 6.7)
| Name | Version | Release Date | Build Number |
| vCenter Server 6.7 Update 3w | 6.7.0.58000 | 10/28/2024 | 24337536 |
| vCenter Server 6.5 Update 3w | 6.5.0.43000 | 07/04/2024 | 24045034 |
| vCenter Server 6.0 Update 1 | 6.0 U1 | 09/10/2015 | 3018524 |
| vCenter Server 5.5 Update 3 | 5.5 U3 | 09/16/2015 | 3000241 |
| vCenter Server 5.1 Update 3 | 5.1 U3 | 12/04/2014 | 2306353 |
| vCenter Server 5.0 GA | 5.0 GA | 08/24/2011 | 456005 |
| vCenter Server 4.1 GA | 4.1 GA | 07/13/2010 | 259021 |
| vCenter Server 4.0 GA | 4.0 GA | 05/21/2009 | 162856 |
| VirtualCenter 2.5.0 GA | 2.5.0 | 12/10/2007 | 64192 |
Quick Tips for the Lazy Admin
- Check via VAMI: For 6.7 and newer, go to
https://<vcenter-ip>:5480. The version and build are right on the login screen. - Compatibility: Before upgrading vCenter, check the VMware Interoperability Matrix. Just because vCenter 9.0 is out doesn’t mean your older ESXi 6.7 hosts can talk to it!
- VCSA Migration: If you are still on version 6.5 or 6.7, your next step is a migration to the Appliance (VCSA). There is no “in-place” upgrade for Windows-based vCenter to 7.0+.
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The Master List: VMware ESXi Release and Build Number History (Updated 2026) | Lazy Admin Blog
Is your host up to date? Checking the “About” section in your vSphere Client is step one, but cross-referencing that number against this list is how you confirm if you’re on a General Availability (GA) release, an Update, or an Express Patch.
vSphere ESXi 9.0 (Latest)
The new generation of the hypervisor, optimized for AI workloads and DPUs.
| Name | Version | Release Date | Build Number |
| VMware ESXi 9.0.2 | 9.0.2 | 2026-01-20 | 25148080 |
| VMware ESXi 9.0.1 | 9.0.1 | 2025-09-29 | 24957450 |
| VMware ESXi 9.0 GA | 9.0 GA | 2025-06-17 | 24755225 |
vSphere ESXi 8.0
The enterprise workhorse for 2024-2026.
| Name | Version | Release Date | Build Number |
| VMware ESXi 8.0 Update 3 | 8.0 U3 | 2024-06-25 | 24022510 |
| VMware ESXi 8.0 Update 2 | 8.0 U2 | 2023-09-21 | 22380479 |
| VMware ESXi 8.0 Update 1 | 8.0 U1 | 2023-04-18 | 21495797 |
| VMware ESXi 8.0 GA | 8.0 GA | 2022-10-11 | 20513097 |
vSphere ESXi 7.0
Note: This version introduced the new Lifecycle Manager (vLCM).
| Name | Version | Release Date | Build Number |
| VMware ESXi 7.0 Update 3w | 7.0 U3w | 2025-09-29 | 24927030 |
| VMware ESXi 7.0 Update 3 | 7.0 U3 | 2021-10-05 | 18644231 |
| VMware ESXi 7.0 GA | 7.0 GA | 2020-04-02 | 15843807 |
vSphere ESXi 6.x Legacy (Archive)
| Name | Version | Release Date | Build Number |
| VMware ESXi 6.7 Update 3 | 6.7 U3 | 2019-08-20 | 14320388 |
| VMware ESXi 6.5 Update 3 | 6.5 U3 | 2019-07-02 | 13932383 |
| VMware ESXi 6.0 Update 1a | 6.0 U1a | 2015-10-06 | 3073146 |
| VMware ESXi 6.0 GA | 6.0 GA | 2015-03-12 | 2494585 |
How to Verify Your Build Number
If you aren’t at your desk and only have SSH access to the host, you can find your build number instantly with this command:
vmware -v
Example Output:
VMware ESXi 8.0.0 build-20513097
Lazy Admin Tip 💡
Always remember the vCenter Interoperability Rule: Your vCenter Server must always be at a build version equal to or higher than your ESXi hosts. If you patch your hosts to vSphere 9.0 while vCenter is still on 8.0, your hosts will show as “Not Responding” or “Disconnected.”
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