Updating VMware Tools on vSphere ESXi host Clusters or on Virtual Machines using vSphere Lifecycle manager

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi
• VMware vSphere ESX 8.x
• VMware vSphere ESX 7.x
• VMware vCenter Server 8.0
• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• VMware Tools is a product that runs on ESXi hosts and Virtual Machine's within a vSphere environment. Normally, VMware Tools is updated per Virtual Machine.
• Alternatively, you can update VMware Tools on all hosts in a cluster. This will cascade the updates from hosts to Virtual Machine 's running on the hosts.

Resolution

Steps to update VMware Tools for whole cluster:

1. Obtain the latest VMware Tools bundle: 
   1. Log in to your support.broadcom.com account.
   2. Click My Downloads.
   3. Click Free Software Downloads available HERE.
   4. In the Search bar type VMware tools.
   5. Click the VMware vSphere button.
   6. Select a Product version (eg. 13.0.#).
   7. Agree to the terms and conditions.
   8. Download the VMware Tools Offline VIB Bundle.
2. Create a new lifecycle managed cluster and specify the VMware Tools component. To learn more about image based or baseline based management, refer to Managing Host and Cluster Lifecycle. If your cluster is already set up, follow the steps below corresponding to your management type (Baseline or Image)

Image based Cluster :

1. While using Image Based Clusters this is the modern way to manage clusters using a single declarative image update the host Image.
   1. Navigate to your Cluster > Updates tab.
   2. Select Image and click Edit.
   3. Next to Components, click Show Details.
   4. Click Add Components and search for VMware Tools Async Release.
   5. Select the version you want and click Select.
   6. Click Validate to check for hardware compatibility, then click Save.
   7. Click Remediate All. This updates the Tools "locker" on the ESXi hosts.

      Note: Host remediation for VMware Tools typically does not require a reboot, but the host may still need to enter Maintenance Mode depending on your settings.

2. Update the virtual machines once the hosts have the new version of VMware tools, the virtual machines will show a newer version available status:
   1. In the same Updates tab, select VMware Tools.
   2. Click Check Status to refresh the list of virtual machines.
   3. Select the virtual machines you wish to update and click Upgrade to Match Host.

Baseline based Cluster :

1. Before you can update the hosts, you need a baseline that contains the VMware Tools async release.

   1. Navigate to Lifecycle Manager from the Main Menu.
   2. Go to the Baselines tab.
   3. Click New > Baseline.
   4. Name it (e.g., "VMware Tools Async Update") and select Extension or Patch as the content type.
   5. In the Select Patches section, uncheck "Filter by vendor" and search for the specific VMware Tools version you downloaded/imported.
   6. Complete the wizard to create the baseline.
2. Attach and Remediate the Cluster.

   1. Navigate to your Cluster > Updates tab.
   2. Ensure you are in the Baselines view.
   3. Scroll down to the Attached Baselines pane and click Attach > Attach Baseline or Baseline Group.
   4. Select the baseline you created in Step 1 and click Attach.
   5. Click Check Compliance. The hosts should now show as "Non-Compliant."
   6. Select the baseline and click Remediate.
   7. Review the impact (Maintenance Mode requirements) and click Remediate again to start the process.
3. Update the virtual machines, the process for virtual machines remains largely the same as the image based method, as the goal is to align the guest with the host's new locker.
   1. Stay in the Updates tab of the Cluster.
   2. Select VMware Tools under the "VMs" section (or navigate to a specific VM's Updates tab).
   3. Click Check Status to see which VMs are now out of date relative to the host.
   4. Select the target VMs and click Upgrade to Match Host.