How to update/upgrade VMware vSphere ESXi from zip file
Example on updating and patching VMware ESXi 8.0.2 build xxxx to 8.0.3 build xxx on a Dell PowerEdge server
Typically every 6 months or we reach out to Dell enterprise support (since they are the vendor of the servers we manage and maintain) to make sure servers are up to date with drivers, BIOS and firmware. We ensure the VMware updates are compatible with the hardware.
Find the appropriate Dell customized zip file from VMware/Broadcom support site and download.
Read the Release Notes.
Download the 8.0.3 build xxxx zip file into your PC.
Connect to the host running ESXi via a browser
Browse the Data Store.
Create a folder to upload the zip file to, and upload it.
Enable SSH to the host from the host itself or through vCenter.
Shutdown all VMs running on host.
Place the host in Maintenance Mode.
SSH to host and login using root.
Type:
CD /
Now suppose the name and location of the uploaded zip file is:
vmfs/volumes/SAN1-Vol01/Updates/VMware-VMvisor-Installer-8.0.0.update03-24022510.x86_64-Dell_Customized-A00.zip
In 8.0.2 and earlier the command to update would look like the following:
esxcli software vib update -d /vmfs/volumes/SAN1-Vol01/Updates/VMware-VMvisor-Installer-8.0.0.update03-24022510.x86_64-Dell_Customized-A00.zip
But when we tried it with 8.0.3 we got the following error:
ESXi version change is not allowed using esxcli software vib commands. Please use a supported method to upgrade ESXi.
The command has changed in 8.0.3. You will need to use the profile included in the zip file instead of using vib in the command.
To find out the name of the profile you would type:
esxcli software sources profile list -d /vmfs/volumes/SAN1-Vol01/Updates/VMware-VMvisor-Installer-8.0.0.update03-24022510.x86_64-Dell_Customized-A00.zip
Suppose the name of the profile listed is:
DEL-ESXi_803.24022510-A00
The you would type the following to update:
esxcli software profile update -p DEL-ESXi_803.24022510-A00 \
–depot=/vmfs/volumes/SAN1-Vol01/Updates/VMware-VMvisor-Installer-8.0.0.update03-24022510.x86_64-Dell_Customized-A00.zip
After it is finished, scroll up and make sure it says that the update was successful and you need to reboot.
Reboot and once fully up, take out the host of Maintenance Mode and start the VMs. Stop SSH for security reasons.
This is what we had to do in our last vmware update.
Consult VMware and Dell support on your update
awesome walkthrough on manually updating the zip file… Thank you very much!!