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Epsillion
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Patching VMware ESXi

So I have recently discovered that my VMware ESXi is running version number ESXi 5.5.0 build-1331820 (ESXi 5.5.0 GA). Now I know there are a few patches that were released, ESXi550-201410001 is the most recent as far as I am aware. Would it be practical to patch, also if it is, can I just go from what version I am now, download the recent patch and install it directly, or is there a few prerequisite patches required before. There are active and important virtual machines running on the hosts that I would be "patching" they can be shut down, but it would be really bad if the patch where to cause problems for the host causing problems for the virtual machines.

I'm new to this, as I have never "patched" ESXi before. I'm assuming that I can use this (VMware KB: Installing patches on an ESXi 5.x host from the command line ) as documentation on how to install those.

Thanks in advance!

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vThinkBeyondVM
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Yes, ESXi patches are comulative.

Please read carefully this blog post from VMware :Are ESXi Patches Cumulative | VMware vSphere Blog - VMware Blogs

Another good blog post on this :VMware Front Experience: Are ESXi 5.x patches cumulative?


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Thanks & Regards
Vikas, VCP70, MCTS on AD, SCJP6.0, VCF, vSphere with Tanzu specialist.
https://vThinkBeyondVM.com/about
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Disclaimer: Any views or opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I am solely responsible for all content published here. Content published here is not read, reviewed or approved in advance by VMware and does not necessarily represent or reflect the views or opinions of VMware.

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vThinkBeyondVM
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Yes, ESXi patches are comulative.

Please read carefully this blog post from VMware :Are ESXi Patches Cumulative | VMware vSphere Blog - VMware Blogs

Another good blog post on this :VMware Front Experience: Are ESXi 5.x patches cumulative?


----------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks & Regards
Vikas, VCP70, MCTS on AD, SCJP6.0, VCF, vSphere with Tanzu specialist.
https://vThinkBeyondVM.com/about
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: Any views or opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I am solely responsible for all content published here. Content published here is not read, reviewed or approved in advance by VMware and does not necessarily represent or reflect the views or opinions of VMware.

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Epsillion
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So I can download the most recent patch as mentioned in my first post, and just use "esxcli software vib update -d <patch archive>" alone to fully install the patch with all the VIB's. This will then install the updates/patches with everything that is required (being comulative - as you mentioned).



So I need to:

  1. Shutdown/migrate all/any virtual machines. Put the host into maintenance mode
  2. Download the zip patch to the host in this case being ESXi550-201410001
  3. Execute "esxcli software vib update -d <patch archive>"
  4. Reboot the host. Remove it from maintenance mode
  5. Done.

If the patch where to fail for whatever reason would it automatically fallback? I ask because I don't want to find that the host is inaccessible or can no longer run the virtual machines after the patch.

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vNEX
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If something goes wrong during VIB/driver install don't worry you can use alt-bootbank to rollback the changes made by the installer.

To successfully rollback to previous image use Shift+R during initial boot process of ESXi.

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