asked on

VMWare patching problems with VCenter Server UM

Hi,

I am new to VMWare and have two hosts, each with 4 guests each.

One of the guests is running VCentre Server on it and i have been having issues trying to patch it using the VMWare Update Manager. For it to update, all guests need to be shut down and of course as soon as i do this i loose VCenter and the patching fails.

Now i only have the basic Essentials Kit so no vMotion unfortunately.

I would like to ask the "experts" on how to do this via the console etc, bare in mind i am still learning the product.

Cheers.

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

do not forget to put the ESXi server in maintenance mode.

But simply

1. download the patch/update from VMware Patch Portal

2. Upload to your VMFS datastore

3. Login via SSH or at the console

4. type esxcli software vib install -d /vmfs/volumes/[DATASTORE]/[PATCH_FILE].zip

if you have ESXi 5.x, the following link is the easiest way to update

http://www.vladan.fr/esxi-free-how-to-upgrade-to-esxi-5-1/

http://www.v-front.de/2013/05/quickest-way-to-update-your-standalone.html

pgm554

Just remember the paid version is what they are trying to get you to upgrade to by making it a pain in the a$$ to upgrade the free one.

tmaster100

ASKER

I have the paid version, i am using Essentials Kit.

tmaster100

ASKER

Great,

I see there are two seperate files i need to download and upload to each host.

To apply these i assume i simply execute both on each host. I assume there is no order reccommended on which to apply them?

Cheers.

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

You download the latest and last patch file which includes all the previous patches.

patches are cummulative.

tmaster100

ASKER

Thanks but that doesn't make sense.

http://www.vmware.com/patchmgr/findPatch.portal?product=ESXi+(Embedded+and+Installable)&version=121

The latest patch at the top is only half the size of the previous one. If patches are cummulative then why is the latest far smaller than it's predecessor?

Maybe i am missing something?

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

which version of ESXi do you have?

what build of ESXi do you have?

Remember there are security patches and upgrades.

and upgrade is from a previous version.

the one at the top is a patch for 5.1, the one underneath is an upgrade from 5.0 to 5.1!

e.g. 5.0 ---> 5.1 (upgrade)

patch

5.1 --> 5.1a (patch)

tmaster100

ASKER

Ah, i have 5.1

tmaster100

ASKER

Still doesn't make much sense as i cannot see anywhere it states update from 5.0 --> 5.1

1) ESXi510-201305001

2) update-from-esxi5.1-5.1_update01

No 1 is a no brainer.

No 2 is a 5.1 to a 5.1.01 if i am not mistaken.

According to the Update Manager i need about 16 files, the above two contain the same number of files it is expecting. It seems i need to use both?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

tmaster100

ASKER

Yep, i needed to update to 5.1 U1.

I have it all sorted now, thanks.