Need to be very specific on the VMware environment versions to be able to check in the support matrix.
Example : vCenter 5.1 U3
Checking the DP Support Matreix
https://softwaresupport.hp.com/group/softwaresupport/search-result/-/facetsearch/document/KM00711729
Support Matrices for HP Data Protector 8.1
HP Data Protector 8.10
Virtualization Support Matrix
Version: 2.1 Date: October 2015
Table 3: Data Protector 8.10 Virtual Environment Agent platform support
VMware vCenter Server 5.1 U2, 5.5, 6.0
=> vCenter Server 5.1 U3 is not listed and clearly it is NOT supported on DP 8.1x. Only vCenter Server 5.1 U2 is supported.
Checking the next version :
https://softwaresupport.hp.com/group/softwaresupport/search-result/-/facetsearch/document/KM01029738
Support Matrices for DP 9.0
HPE Data Protector 9.0x
Virtualization Support Matrix
Version: 1.7 Date: December 2015
Table 3: VMware vCenter support
VMware vCenter support for Data Protector 9.0x
VMware vCenter Server 5.1 U3, 5.1 U2
=> It is very specific on the vCenter version – meaning, it will be clearly listed.
Reference :
kb.vmware.com/kb/392
Determining VMware Software Version and Build Number (392)
kb.vmware.com/kb/1014508
Correlating VMware product build numbers to update levels (1014508)
Another way of checking (DP Support side) is by DP DEBUGGING - to verify things
[199] 2016-01-06 15:03:52.198 ("/integ/vep/vepa/ $Rev: 2517 $ $Date:: 2009-10-28 16:12:58":66)
[199] <<=== (6) } /* ViAPI::VimSOAPSDK::getServiceContent */
[199]
[110] [AppUtil::getServiceContent] Returning:
Type='class ns1__ServiceContent';value=(aboutInfo='Type='class ns1__AboutInfo';value=(name='VMware vCenter Server';fullName='VMware vCenter Server 4.1.0 build-258902';vendor='VMware, Inc.';version='4.1.0';build='258902';)';)
Key entry is fullName='VMware vCenter Server 4.1.0 build-258902'