Patches require multiple redemiations - Is it supposed to do that?

[ttarps]

Hi,

I'm currently running ESX 3.5 Update 3 Build number 158874 and am testing the deployment of 39 recently released patches. When i remediate a host it only installs 14 patches. If i remediate the same host immediately after its finished the first 14 patches it then install another 19. If i do this again there are another 6 patches to install. I was expecting that all the patches would be installed in one remediation so am a little concerned that somethings not right. Below are a list of the patches that are installed in each of the 3 stages.

Part One

ESX350-200903202-UG

ESX350-200903203-UG

ESX350-200903219-UG

ESX350-200903223-UG

ESX350-200903224-UG

ESX350-200904402-SG

ESX350-200904406-SG

ESX350-200904407-SG

ESX350-200904408-SG

ESX350-200903412-BG

ESX350-200903204-UG

ESX350-200903213-UG

ESX350-200903232-UG

Part Two

ESX350-200903411-BG

ESX350-200903201-UG

ESX350-200903206-UG

ESX350-200903209-UG

ESX350-200903210-UG

ESX350-200903211-UG

ESX350-200903212-UG

ESX350-200903217-UG

ESX350-200903218-UG

ESX350-200903220-UG

ESX350-200903221-UG

ESX350-200903225-UG

ESX350-200903230-UG

ESX350-200903215-UG

ESX350-200903216-UG

ESX350-200903226-UG

ESX350-200903227-UG

ESX350-200903228-UG

ESX350-200903229-UG

Part Three

ESX350-2009044001-BG

ESX350-200904403-BG

ESX350-200904404-BG

ESX350-200904201-SG

ESX350-200904405-BG

ESX350-200904409-BG

Should it be happening like this?

Has anybody else had a similar problem?

If i wanted to schedule this to be done overnight would is the best way to just schedule the host to remediate 3 times?

Thanks

Steve

[petkom]

Hi Steve,

I think that the situation is due to patch dependencies. There a lot and complicated patch dependencies - some of them are getting obsolette by others, some need addiotional patches, some need new versions. Probably that's the case in your situation.

thanks,

Petko

[JonRoderick]

Dependencies is one thing but in two years of patching ESX, I've never seen this behaviour before - I'd like to know if other ppl have seen this.

Cheers

Jon

[ttarps]

Hi,

Just thought i'd give an update on how i was getting on with these pathes.

When i came to try these patches in our live estate they all installed in one batch. I'm assuming that the problems i was seeing must have been caused by the hosts being built in a slightly different way (different original build perhaps).

Thanks for your helpful comments.

[petkom]

No problems at all - we are always happy to help if we can. What is exactly the difference between the production hosts and the others - "...built in slightly different way"? Only the build number or anything else?