This guide provides an updated list of Nutanix AHV and AOS software versions list, including release dates, compatibility information, upgrade paths, and recommended best upgrade practices. The AHV & AOS compatibility matrix below helps administrators plan safe and stable production upgrades based on the most recent Nutanix releases.

Keeping Nutanix clusters updated is one of the most important responsibilities for any virtualization or HCI administrator. Stable software versions reduce outages, enhance performance, and ensure that enterprise platforms remain protected from security vulnerabilities. However, Nutanix releases frequent updates for both AHV (Nutanix Acropolis Hypervisor) and AOS (Acropolis Operating System), which makes it essential to track the latest versions and their compatibility requirements.

In this guide, we are presenting the latest Nutanix AHV and AOS version history, their release timelines, and the compatibility matrix that helps IT teams choose the right upgrade path. The goal is to simplify the information in a friendly way so that even new Nutanix HCI administrators can understand version alignment and upgrade recommendations easily.

Why Nutanix AHV and AOS Compatibility Matters

Ensuring Nutanix AHV and AOS compatibility is one of the most critical steps in maintaining a stable, high-performance HCI environment. AHV (hypervisor) and AOS (Nutanix operating system) work closely together to deliver storage, compute, and virtualization services.

When these components are not aligned with Nutanix-supported versions, it can lead to system instability, upgrade failures, degraded VM performance, or unexpected downtime. Compatibility validation becomes even more important during upgrades, cluster expansions, and multi-site deployments.

By keeping Nutanix AHV and AOS within Nutanix’s recommended version range, administrators ensure seamless feature availability, optimum cluster performance, and long-term reliability.

Nutanix AHV and AOS work closely together as a unified platform. A mismatch between versions may cause:

Why Compatibility Matters (Key Points):

• Prevents upgrade failures and reduces unexpected errors.
• Ensures stable cluster operations across all nodes.
• Improves VM performance by aligning hypervisor and software features.
• Enables access to new capabilities introduced in newer releases.
• Maintains Nutanix support eligibility during troubleshooting.
• Reduces risk of hypervisor-related outages in production.

Nutanix strongly recommends following the officially aligned versions because each AHV release is extensively tested against specific AOS builds. When a cluster runs matched versions, it ensures maximum reliability, better security posture, and predictable operations.

Nutanix AHV and AOS Latest Versions (2025 Update)

Keeping track of the latest Nutanix AHV and AOS versions on Nutanix HCI Cluster is essential for maintaining a secure, stable, and high-performance HCI environment. Nutanix continues to release new updates that improve reliability, enhance security, and add powerful features for modern workloads.

Whether you manage a single cluster or a multi-site enterprise deployment, staying updated with the latest supported versions helps ensure compatibility, smoother upgrades, and better lifecycle management.

In this guide, we highlight the most recent or latest AHV and AOS releases compatible to each other, along with key enhancements and upgrade considerations every Nutanix administrator should know.

Below is the latest version & history of AHV & AOS software releases with compatibility matrix:

Recently updated on: 16-Nov-2025

Nutanix AHV 10.0 Latest Version and History with Compatibility Matrix

• AOS 7.3.1: Customers using AHV Metro or Synchronous replication should not upgrade to AOS 7.3.1. Refer KB-20067

Nutanix AHV 2023-[0302].0 Latest Version and History with Compatibility Matrix

To check further Compatibility details, refer Nutanix Compatibility Matrix Guide

Understanding “N-1 & N-2 Compatibility” Upgrade Rule

Nutanix often marks some AOS versions as N-1, which means:

• N = Latest tested AOS version
• N-1 & 2= Previous stable build still compatible

This helps organizations upgrade AHV without immediately upgrading AOS or vice versa, giving administrators flexibility for maintenance schedules.

Read more: Check Nutanix AOS, AHV, ESXi Software Upgrade History on Nutanix Cluster

Download Nutanix AHV & AOS

You can download Nutanix latest AHV & AOS software bundle directly from following one-click links

How to Choose the Right AHV and AOS Version

Choosing the right Nutanix AHV and AOS version is one of the most important decisions for keeping your cluster stable, secure, and optimized for performance. With frequent updates, bug fixes, and feature enhancements, it can be confusing to know which version is best for your environment.

The ideal approach is not always to install the newest release, but to select a version that aligns with Nutanix best practices, hardware compatibility, and your business needs.

In this guide, we explain the key factors to consider so you can confidently choose a reliable and fully supported AHV and AOS version.

Nutanix Administrators (You) should follow these guidelines:

1. Use the latest compatible recommended pair as mentioned above.
2. Latest Release (N):
   This delivers maximum performance and long-term stability. But may be risky with unknown bugs that may cause production impact.
3. For conservative environments (N-1 and N-2 Release):
   These versions are ideal for minimizing disruption while maintaining full compatibility. They are generally recommended for production environments unless Nutanix identifies major issues or critical security vulnerabilities in the release.
4. Avoid running outdated combinations
   Older AHV versions may not support new AOS features, causing unexpected errors or upgrade failures.

Nutanix Cluster Upgrade Recommendations

As per industry standards and I would recommend to follow the N-1 or N-2 upgrade policy, meaning you should run one or two versions behind the latest stable release. This ensures maximum compatibility, fewer disruptions, and better ecosystem support. Always review release notes, check compatibility matrices, and perform upgrades during planned maintenance windows.
Follow Nutanix Upgrade Path Best Practice.

• ✔ Always upgrade AOS first
• AOS upgrades ensure that CVMs and cluster services are ready for the AHV hypervisor update.
• ✔ Validate compatibility using LCM
• Nutanix Life Cycle Manager automatically checks version alignment.
• ✔ Read release notes
• Some AHV builds may receive rapid patches depending on security or kernel updates.
• ✔ Test in staging clusters
• Mission-critical clusters should test upgrades before moving to production.
• ✔ Maintain at least one backup admin account
• Essential for avoiding lockout during upgrade failures.

Read Nutanix Upgrade Related Articles:

• Nutanix One-click Upgrade Vs LCM Upgrade
• Upgrade VMware ESXi 7 to 8 on Nutanix Cluster
• Exclusive Fix: VMware vCenter Upgrade Failed 6.7 to 7.0 to 8.0

Nutanix Cluster – Best Practices Before Upgrading

Upgrading a Nutanix cluster is one of the most important tasks for keeping your HCI environment reliable, secure, and aligned with the latest features. However, an upgrade should never be rushed.

Each Nutanix version update affects core components like AOS, AHV, Prism Element, Prism Central, and even firmware, which means a single missed check can impact VM performance or cluster stability. That’s why Nutanix strongly recommends following a structured upgrade approach with proper health checks, compatibility validation, and data protection steps.

A well-planned upgrade not only reduces risks but also ensures smooth continuity for business-critical workloads. In this guide, we’ll cover the key precautions administrators should take before upgrading Nutanix clusters.

These best practices help you avoid disruptions, stay compliant with Nutanix recommendations, and maintain a healthy production environment throughout the process.

Here are important precautions before upgrading Nutanix clusters, shared in clean bullet points:

1. Ensure AOS, AHV, NCC, and PC compatibility using the Nutanix Compatibility Matrix.
2. Verify cluster health and fix all NCC checks.
3. Make sure CVM memory is set to Nutanix-recommended size.
4. Validate free space on Nutanix cluster
5. Ensure LCM inventory sync or update is successful.
6. Disable host affinity rules or critical VM dependencies.
7. Migrate or shut down business-critical VMs as required. If face compute resources challenge.
8. Review release notes and known issues for your target version.
9. Keep Hypervisor and Firmware ready for post-upgrade compatibility.
10. Confirm network redundancy (dual uplinks, redundant CVM communication).
11. Perform the upgrade in a maintenance window with rollback plan ready.

Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)

Finding the right Nutanix AHV and AOS versions can be confusing, especially with frequent releases and compatibility rules. These FAQs provide clear, simple answers to the most common questions, helping you understand version support, upgrade decisions, and best practices for maintaining a stable and reliable Nutanix environment.

Manish Kumar

I’m Manish Kumar, founder of HyperHCI.com and a senior IT consultant with 13+ years of experience in infrastructure design and cybersecurity. An official certified SME for ISC2 and Nutanix, Also, certified in CISSP, CompTIA Security+, VMware and AWS. My expertise covers HCI, virtualization, cloud computing, network and security across Nutanix, VMware, and AWS platforms Read more