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Updating ESXi 5 – Single use esxcli

01: Make sure you have the vMA 5.0 or the vCLI installed and configured or that you have ESXi Shell access on the ESXi 5 host.

02: Download the patch bundle directly from VMware Support. This download will be .zip file. Do not extract it.

03: Upload the .zip file to a datastore that is accessible on the ESXi host you wish to update. The syntax below will use /vmfs/volumes/datastore1, and you may need to adjust as necessary. Note that the .zip file is uploaded to the ESXi host.

Note: In the examples below, the syntax is specific for the vMA. Adjust accordingly, if you are using another approach.

04: Obtain local console access to the vMA and login with the vi-admin account.

05. To determine if the host needs to be placed in maintenance mode, issue the following command:

esxcli –server=10.10.10.10 –username=root software sources vib get -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ESXi500-201109001.zip | grep “Maintenance Mode Required: True”

06. If grep returns “Maintenance Mode Required: True” results, then issue the following command to place the host in maintenance mode:

vicfg-hostops –server 10.10.10.10 –operation enter

07. Verify that the host is in maintenance mode, by issuing the following command:

vicfg-hostops –server=10.10.10.10 –operation info

Note: You could also use the vSphere Client to put the ESXi 5 host in maintenance mode.

08. To verify which VIBs are already installed on the ESXi 5 host, issue the following command:

esxcli –server=10.10.10.10 –username=root software vib list | more
09. To find out which VIBs are available in the depot (the downloaded .zip file), issue the following command:

esxcli –server=10.10.10.10 –username=root software sources vib list –depot=/vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ESXi500-201109001.zip | more
10. To update the ESXi 5 host with the VIBs included in the depot, issue the following command:

esxcli –server=10.10.10.10 –username=root software vib update –depot=/vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ESXi500-201109001.zip

11. When the update is complete, verify the information presented. If prompted, reboot the ESXi 5 host by issuing the following command:

vicfg-hostops –server 10.10.10.10 –operation reboot
12. Verify the patch bundle was installed, by issuing the following command:

esxcli –server=10.10.10.10 –username=root software vib list | more

13. If applicable, take the ESXi 5 host out of maintenance mode using the vSphere Client or with the following command:

vicfg-hostops –server 10.10.10.10 –operation exit

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