There a several ways to patch a VMware ESXi server. vSphere Update Manager (VUM) can update for example a complete ESXi host cluster fully automatic. vSphere Update Manager requires a vCenter Server. When you don’t have a vCenter Server patching can be done from the command line.
Here is a quick overview of how to patch an ESXi 6.x or 7.x host to the latest patch or version (from ESXi 6 to 7 for example).
Step 1. Download the latest patch bundle from the VMware Web site, link. VMware ESXi patches are cumulative! Each patch bundle (.zip archive) includes all the updates from prior patches.
Esxi 6.5 Patch Download
During the time of writing the latest update was update-from-esxi5.5-5.5update.zip. Before starting you might want to backup your configuration (in case something goes wrong) – Backup and Restore ESXi Configuration with PowerCLI. Choose the ESXi embedded and installable, and the version you want to patch (5.0, 5.1 or 5.5). ESXi-6.5.0-1-no-tools For more information about the individual bulletins, see the Download Patches page and the Resolved Issues section. Patch Download and Installation. With ESXi 6.5 Update 2, you can add tags to the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) hardware version 1.2 on ESXi by using ESXCLI commands. A new API provides read and write access in the form of get, set, and clear commands to the non-volatile memory on TPMs of version 1.2. 2019-07-02 (Update 3) Imageprofile ESXi-6.5.0-1-standard (Build 13932383) includes the following updated VIBs: Name Version Vendor Summary Category Severity.
Step 2. Upload the patch bundle (zip) to a (central) datastore with the vSphere Client (prior vSphere 6.5), vSphere Web Client, ESXi host client.
Step 3. Enable SSH
In the vSphere Web client start the SSH service and make a SSH session to the ESXi host
Step 4. Put the host in maintenance mode
Step 5. Install the patch bundle
Using esxcli with the install method has the possibility of overwriting existing drivers. If you are using third-party ESXi images, VMware recommends using the update method to prevent an unbootable state. The following command will install the patch bunde:
For example install HPE ESXi 6 Update 3:
After the patch bundle is installed check the message. It must say “The update completed successfully, but the system needs to be rebooted for changes to be effective.”
Step 6. Reboot the host by entering the following command:
Step 7. Make a SSH session to the ESXi host and exit maintenance mode
Esxi 6.5 Patch 2021
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