Updating an ESXi/ESX host using VMware vCenter Update Manager 4.x, 5.x and 6.x

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides a quick reference to the information needed for updating an ESX host using vCenter Update Manager.

Note: Each environment is different. For more information on configuration and usage, see VMware vSphere Update Manager Documentation.

Environment

VMware ESXi 4.1.x Installable
VMware vCenter Update Manager 4.0.x
VMware ESX 4.0.x
VMware vCenter Update Manager 5.0.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.5
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5
VMware vSphere Update Manager 5.5.x
VMware vCenter Update Manager 4.1.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.1
VMware vSphere Update Manager 6.0.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.0
VMware vCenter Update Manager 5.1.x
VMware vCenter Update Manager 6.0.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0
VMware ESX Server 3.5.x

Resolution

Note: If you use VMware vSphere 6.7, consult Configuring Update Manager

Update Manager downloads the list of available patches from Broadcom Downloads.

 

To set up frequency of the repository update:

1. Click Home.
2. Click the Update Manager icon.
3. Under the Configuration tab, click Patch Download Schedule.

 

To view the Patch Download scheduled task:

1. Click Home.
2. Click Scheduled Tasks.
3. Click VMware vCenter Update Manager Update Download.

Notes:

• To manually run this task, right-click the task and click Run.
• When running the task, you see Download Patch Definitions task in the Recent Tasks.
• If the Download Patch Definitions task fails, ensure Update Manager can reach vmware.com. For more information, see VMware vCenter Update Manager network port requirements (broadcom.com)

To attach the baselines to the ESX host:

1. Click Home > Hosts and Clusters.
2. Highlight the ESX host you want to update and click the Update Manager tab.
3. Click Attach. Select Critical Host Patches and Non-Critical Host Patches baselines and click Attach.
   
   Note: To create custom baselines click Home > Update Manager > Baselines and Groups > Create.

To scan the ESX host for missing patches against the repository, right-click on the ESX host and click Scan for Updates > Patches and Extensions > Scan.

Notes:

• Scan progress is shown by the Scan Entity task in the Recent Tasks.
• The host scan does not affect running virtual machines.
• If the scan fails, ensure that the ports between Update Manager and the ESX host are open. For more information, see VMware vCenter Update Manager network port requirements (broadcom.com)
• When the scan is complete you see the number of patches missing on the ESX host. If no patches are missing, you see Compliant.

To remediate the missing patches to the ESX host:

1. Power off all virtual machines or vMotion them to a different ESX host.
2. Place the ESX host into maintenance mode. Right-click on the ESX host, select Enter Maintenance Mode, and click Yes.
3. Right-click on the ESX host and select Remediate > Critical Host Patches and Non-Critical Host Patches baselines and click Next.
4. Select which updates or patches to install, click Next >Next > Finish.

Notes:

• Remediate progress is shown by the Remediate Entity task in the Recent Tasks.
• This task might take some time as Update Manager starts downloading patches from vmware.com.

If the remediation fails, ensure the ports between Update Manager, the ESX host, and vmware.com are open.

For more information, see VMware vCenter Update Manager network port requirements (broadcom.com)

• The ESX host might reboot after remediation completes.

Additional Information

VMware Skyline Health Diagnostics for vSphere - FAQ (broadcom.com)

In vSphere 5.5, the vSphere Web Client allows you to:

• Attach baselines to objects in the inventory
• Initiate a scan of an object in the inventory

To initiate a scan in the inventory:

1. In the vSphere Web Client object navigator, select an ESX/ESXi host or a host folder.
2. Click the Monitor tab.
3. Click Update Manager.
4. Click Scan and select the types of updates to scan for. You can choose to scan for Patches and Extensions or Upgrades.
5. Click OK.