Hello all,
What is the best way of patching an ESX 3.5i server? (Best Practice).
TIA,
Ronen.
There are a few ways to patch ESXi if you don't use vCenter Server and Update Manager - http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/Patch_3i_without_VC.php. I'd also recommend a configuration backup - http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/esx_3i_rcli/vihostupdate.php - before patching the host.
It depends actually.
Either use the Vmware Update Server (VUM) if your environment is big enough, or the Update featyure on client.
For my environment it use both, for just a simple upgrade of one of my hosts and for a quick test, I download the newest embedded or installed ESXi patch (zip-file) and update the host.
Be aware that you need to have a direct connection to the ESX host (not via the Virtual Center) to get the update client to see that it can update ESX hosts as well
This feature is also great if you're behind firewalls and can't use the VUM as is.
It's a good pratice to clear out the host before you start, and put it in main. mode. This saves you some time when you start upgrading your host.
Good luck
Hyper-T
There are a few ways to patch ESXi if you don't use vCenter Server and Update Manager - http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/Patch_3i_without_VC.php. I'd also recommend a configuration backup - http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/esx_3i_rcli/vihostupdate.php - before patching the host.
Hello,
Moved to ESXi forum.
Best regards,
Edward L. Haletky
VMware Communities User Moderator, VMware vExpert 2009
====
Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education.
Blue Gears and SearchVMware Pro Blogs -- Top Virtualization Security Links -- Virtualization Security Round Table Podcast