VMware ESX 3.5 to patch 5 upgrade

[rudybrewster]

Hi there

I'm completely new to the administration of VMWare, I will need to be patching our VMWare from U4 to U5 - and I'm a bit confused about the process. Usually with software you'd get a patch document for that patch, with install instructions, run an exe for example and the install would run. From what I've seen on the web, there seems to be a generic upgrade guide for all patches, even major ones - and I've seen some contradictory information about what I need to do.

Is there a simple step by step process to follow for this update? I have found the patch details from searching for VMware 3.5 and I found the U5 update which seems to contain three files - all XML.

Any help is really appreciated and I hope I've found the right section for this question.

[AntonVZhbankov]

Do you have Virtual Center?

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MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[rudybrewster]

Not as far as I'm aware, the person responsible for it has been signed off on long term sickness, so it's fallen to me

As I understand it, we have a HA cluster of three hosts, use the VI client installed to log onto it for the standard VM provisioning etc (that's not the same as connecting to Virtual centre is it?) and the ESX server itself.

We have a back-end SAN also.

[AntonVZhbankov · Accepted solution]

So you have Virtual Center (HA can't work without it).

1) Upgrade Virtual Center to 2.5u5

2) Set up Update Manager and download all patches

3) Migrate all VM off the host

4) Put host into maintenance mode

5) Update it with Update manager

6) Wait till update is completed

7) Exit maintenance mode

😎 Repeat 3-7 for all hosts

---

MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[rudybrewster]

Ok excellent, thanks. I will have to do some more investigation clearly!

So when I upgrade Virtual Centre, is that a simple upgrade? I'll have a look for a guide anyway.

I didn't see any of these helpful procedures in the install guides so far - I appreciate your help, do they have a points system here as I'm happy to award some for you.

[AntonVZhbankov]

Just run installer - it should detect existing installation and ask if you want to upgrade it.

---

MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[rudybrewster]

Thanks again.

So my basic process is:

1. Run the installer (I guess this is from the disk?) and it will connect to the web and I specify U5 for VC.

2. Turn on Update Manager in Plugin > Manage Plugins (I had a look and the module isn't enabled) and download all patches.

3. Migrate the VMs to another host.

4. Put host x into maintenance mode (right click > Maintenance mode)

5. Update with maintenance manager.

6. Wait until it completes.

7. Exit maintenance mode.

8. Repeat.

I think I'm slowly getting there, I'm sure this is all obvious stuff and after I've done it once it'll be far more clear.

[AntonVZhbankov]

1. Download Virtual Center 2.5 u5 from VMware site, unpack and run installer

2. Install (or upgrade) Update manager to latest (from the same installation package), download and install Update Manager plugin (in VI Client)

---

MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[rudybrewster]

Brilliant, thanks for all your help!