Install and upgrade ESXi step by step procedures

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article intends to be a one-stop place to provide links to step-by-step procedures for installing and upgrading VMware vSphere ESXi.

 

Environment

VMware ESXi 8.x

VMware ESXi 7.x

VMware ESXi 6.x

Resolution

Table of Contents

• vSphere ESXi 8.0 - Install
• vSphere ESXi 8.0 - Upgrade
• vSphere ESXi 7.0 - Install
• vSphere ESXi 7.0 - Upgrade
• vSphere ESXi 6.7
• vSphere ESXi 6.5

vSphere ESXi 8.0 - Install

1. Review Requirements - ESXi Requirements
2. Download the ESXi Installer. See, Download Broadcom products and software
3. If there is a need to customize the ESXi image with custom updates, patches and drivers, then use vSphere ESXi Image Builder CLI.
   For more information, How the vSphere ESXi Image Builder Works
4. Review the below options to boot the ESXi installer,
   • Boot from a CD/DVD
   • Boot from a USB flash drive
   • Boot from network
   • Boot from a remote location
5. Install ESXi - ESXi can be installed using the below methods
6. • Interactively
   • Using a script
   • Using vSphere Auto Deploy
7. Configure ESXi after installation - Setting Up ESXi
8. Apply licenses to the ESXi host. For more information, After You Install and Set Up ESXi

vSphere ESXi 8.0 - Upgrade

Note: vCenter Server must be upgraded prior to upgrading ESXi hosts. See, Update Sequence for VMware vSphere 8.0 and Compatible VMware Products

1. Review Overview of the ESXi Host Upgrade Process
2. Review product compatibility using the Product Interoperability Matrix
3. Review hardware requirements. See, ESXi Requirements
4. Review compatibility. Broadcom Compatibility Guide
5. Validate if the current version of ESXi being used can be upgraded to vSphere ESXi 8.0 using Upgrade Path
   ESXi 6.7, ESXi 7.x can be upgraded to ESXi 8.x.
6. ESXi hosts can be upgraded using the below methods:
   1. Interactive upgrade using a CD, DVD, USB or ISO image.
   2. Using esxcli
   3. Scripted upgrade
   4. Auto Deploy
   5. vSphere Lifecycle Manager
7. After upgrade the ESXi host, upgrade virtual machines and VMware Tools

vSphere ESXi 7.0 - Install

1. Review Requirements - ESXi Requirements
2. Download the ESXi Installer. See, Download Broadcom products and software
3. If there is a need to customize the ESXi image with custom updates, patches and drivers, then use vSphere ESXi Image Builder CLI
   For more information, vSphere ESXi Image Builder Overview
4. Review the below options to boot the ESXi installer,
   • Boot from a CD/DVD
   • Boot from a USB flash drive
   • Boot from network
   • Boot from a remote management application
5. Install ESXi - ESXi can be installed using the below methods
   • Interactively
   • Using a script
   • Using vSphere Auto Deploy
6. Configure ESXi after installation - Setting Up ESXi
7. Apply licenses to the ESXi host. For more information, After You Install and Set Up ESXi

vSphere ESXi 7.0 - Upgrade

Note: vCenter Server must be upgraded prior to upgrading ESXi hosts. See, Update Sequence for VMware vSphere 7.0 and Compatible VMware Products

1. Review Overview of the ESXi Host Upgrade Process
2. Review vSphere 7 upgrade best practices
3. Review product compatibility using the Product Interoperability Matrix
4. Review hardware requirements. See, ESXi Requirements
5. Review compatibility. Broadcom Compatibility Guide
6. Validate if the current version of ESXi being used, and if it can be upgraded to vSphere ESXi 8.0 using Upgrade Path
   ESXi 6.7, ESXi 7.x can be upgraded to ESXi 8.x.
7. If VMware NSX is used in the environment see, Upgrading ESXi Hosts in an Environment With VMware NSX
8. ESXi hosts can be upgraded using the below methods:
   1. Interactive upgrade using a CD, DVD, USB or ISO image.
   2. Using esxcli
   3. Scripted upgrade
   4. Auto Deploy
   5. vSphere Lifecycle Manager
9. Video walkthrough: Quicker ESXi host upgrades with suspend to memory.
10. After upgrade the ESXi host, upgrade virtual machines and VMware Tools

vSphere ESXi 6.7

For install see, Installing and Setting Up ESX

For upgrade review, 

1. VMware ESXi Upgrade
2. vSphere upgrade series part 3: Upgrading vSphere Hosts
3. Using the Update Manager 6.7 Interface to Patch VMware ESXi 6.7 Hosts
4. Video walkthrough: vSphere quick boot

vSphere ESXi 6.5

For install see, Installing and Setting Up ESXi

For upgrade see, 

• Upgrading ESXi Hosts
• Video walkthrough: Upgrading a cluster with VUM

Additional Information

For step-by-step procedures to install and upgrade vCenter Server see the KB article, 

Install and upgrade vCenter Server step by step procedures