How to update Vmware tools installation source in ESXi or vCenter?

[WhackyWakie]

Hi everyone,

I have looked around but did not find vmware article which explain how to update the Vmware tools installation source in a vSphere 6.7 or 7 setup. Or I did not look hard enough..   What I found is; https://www.altaro.com/vmware/update-vmware-tools-package-esxi/

Basically, download the latest version from Vmware, scp into the /vmimages/tools-isoimages and the system will auto detect the change. And this need to done on all ESXi host. Does that mean, ESX or vCenter will only compare the local installed vmtool version in the VM with the one current in the ESXi /vmimages/tools-isoimages which it current run on. If the VM is move to another host, it will be compared against another host.

Or this update would be handled by the update manager?

Thanks!

[ashilkrishnan]

Hi @WhackyWakie ,

VMware tools packaged along with ESXi images. These packages are periodically updated along with ESXi patch updates and upgrades.

This does not mean you cannot upgrade VMware tools manually to newer version. Ideally VMware tools are backward compatible with older ESXi versions as well. For more information, please refer --> Interoperability Matrix 

Procedure from Altaro is one of the options. Here is blog from VMware on similar procedure --> Configuring a VMware Tools Repository in vSphere 6.7U1 

I hope that helps.

[dvandelaar]

Hi @WhackyWakie 

First of all, since version 10.0 the release cycle of vmware tools is not linked anymore to the release cycle of vSphere. See this article:

https://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2019/04/vsphere-6-7-u2-vmware-tools-compatibility.html

Also there have been some changes how to set up a vmware tools repository since 6.7. If you don't want to update the tools on each ESXi host separately that might be something you want  to consider doing. Also some automation is possible.

https://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2019/01/configure-a-vmware-tools-repo-in-vsphere-6-7u1.html

https://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2018/09/automating-upgrade-of-vmware-tools-and-vmware-compatibility...

hope this helps and good luck !

Davy

[WhackyWakie]

Thanks!

I have tested in my lab, 3 x esxi 6.7, vcsa and share storage.

1. Used update manager to update (all patches) the esxi host to build 17167734, the vmware tools don’t seem to have changed and the Windows VM still reported as up to date version 11.1.1
2. Next using vcenter change all the hosts advanced setting “UserVars.ProductLockerLocation : “/locker/packages/vmtoolsRepo” to a shared location which I uploaded 11.2.0 vmtools package.
3. Rechecked several times over an hours, vcenter still report the VM’s vmwaretool is up to date.
4.  Checked the https://vcsa/mob the locker location, found no change.
5. Note, no reboot of the ESXi hosts were done. Nor deleting of the vmwaretools file/packages in /locker/packages/vmtoolsRepo.
6. Next, update the lockerlocation via the https://vcsa/mob on all three hosts. As provided in the link by you.
7. vCenter reported there is update for the VMware tools for the VM client.
8. Proceed to update the VM using the update manager via the next reboot option. Found client updated to 11.2.0

Thanks dvandelaar! 

[WhackyWakie]

Thanks ashilkrishnan!

I have responded to the other person of my tested result. Did not know it is so complicated.. maybe I should have used host profile. Not sure it will work. Hope version 7 new update method would be better.

Cheers!

[baszek]

I have found that right now we can use lifecycle manager to update vmtools on ESXi hosts - it can be done without reboot - online - no maintenance mode is needed.

https://thesleepyadmins.com/2021/07/01/updating-vmware-tools-on-esxi-7-0-host-using-vmware-lifecycle...