QUESTIONS pls: upgrading from ESXi 6.0 to 6.7 (and backing up prior to this)

[ComputerDean]

Hello everyone! Currently running ESXi 6.0 on a Dell T430 and wanting to do 2 important things 🙂

I've just updated all the firmware on the Server, and got the link of the optimized ESXi 6.7 isos.

Since this is a production Machine, I would like to be 100% safe when doing the above.

1. What is the best way of backing up (the boot-up is an SD card inside the Server) the ESXi boot-up image or files so that in case the upgrade goes sideways, I can just use the backup SD.

All the VMs are replicated to another Dell T440 Server running ESXi 6.7 so we've got those covered. Also, from an earlier instruction, I was able to backup the host configuration to a text file.

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2042141

2. Once I've done Step 1, please advise on best way to get from 6.0 to 6.7? I get conflicting info when doing research.

Is VServer Center the way to go? It's not installed but I have a license to do so from my Essentials subscription.

Or just stick with the regular upgrading via the iDrac Enterprise Console? (Dell)

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Dean

[IRIX201110141 · Accepted solution]

• ESXi Config backup can only be restore on the same ESXi version (so its not sooooooooo usefull in your case)
• vCenter with VUM works only if vCenter runs not on that host which you wanna be to upgraded. But vCenter is great so see of Updates are needed and if youre compliance and it works with vHW und VMware Tools mass upgrades
• ESXi use 2 boot banks and it offer a role back if something goes wrong

I suggest:

Use putty log file to cover the following

esxcfg-vswitch -l

esxcfg-vmknic -l

esxcfg-nics -l

cat /etc/ntp.conf

cat /etc/resolv.conf

1. Shutdown all VMs and set the host into MM
2. Upgrade the Firmware by using Dells latest platform ISO and use iDRAC Console/Virtual Media. You can enable a one time boot form VirtualCDROM
3. Upgrade ESXi by using the Dell Custom ISO trough iDRAC Console/Virtual Media. You have to select upgrade and SD card!
4. Apply latest updates trough ESX shell

What can go wrong?

• There maybe is a legacy driver from 5.0.0 or so installed. You have to remove them manually
• The famous error 28 - no space left on devise

Regards,
Joerg

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Did you find this helpful? Let us know by completing this survey (takes 1 minute!)"

[ComputerDean]

Thanks, Joerg. I will certainly pay attention to your answers with my next steps.

[sudeshnas]

Hello ComputerDean​,

Yes you can take a backup of the SDcard and run the following single command to take the complete network , storage and other configuration back up of the esxi prior to the upgrade.

To synchronize the configuration changed with persistent storage, run this command:

vim-cmd hostsvc/firmware/sync_config

To backup the configuration data for an ESXi host, run this command:

vim-cmd hostsvc/firmware/backup_config

Note: The command should output a URL in which a web browser may be used to download the file. For example :

Bundle can be downloaded at : http://*/downloads/123456/configBundle-xx.xx.xx.xx.tgz

Where * denotes the host IP/FQDN.

The esxi upgrade can be done from the vcenter, command line or the iDRAC depending upon your convenience.

Vcneter: download the iso and create a baseline and follow the below link:

How-to Upgrade ESXi 6.x to 6.7 via vSphere Update Manager (VUM) - YouTube

Command Line:

Download the esxi 6.7 offline zip bundle , add it to the datastore and execute the following commands:

esxcli software sources profile list -d vmfs/volumes/datastore1/data/ESXi670-xxxxxxxxx.zip

Note: The -p stands for “profile” and the -d stands for “depot”.

esxcli software profile update -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/data/ESXi670-xxxxxxxx.zip -p ESXi-6.7.0-xxxxxxxxxxx-standard Update Result

Idrac:

Mount the iso and boot the esxi form the iso to initiate the upgrade

Regards,

Sudeshna Sarkar

VMware vSphere Community Moderator