Techniques are described herein for supporting multiple versions of a database server within a database machine comprising a separate database layer and storage layer. In an embodiment, the database layer includes compute nodes each hosting one or more instances of a database server. The storage layer includes storage nodes each hosting one or more instances of a storage server, also referred to herein as a “cell server.” In general, the database servers may receive data requests, such as SQL queries, from client applications and service the requests in coordination with the cell servers of the storage layer.