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SubterraneanHom
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Importing Cisco Custom ESXi image in VUM

Recently upgraded vCenter to 5.1 and vSphere Update Manager (VUM) to 5.1  I can import the "regular" vSphere image just fine, which is good news for the most part.

However, we have on cluster that is a UCS cluster.  I'm pretty new to even the idea of the UCS, but my understanding is that we should use the Cisco Custom install images.  I've downloaded two from the VMware download page.  One for 5.0, and one for 5.0 update 1.

Neither will import into VUM.  The error message is "The uploaded upgrade package cannot be used with VMware vSphere Update Manager."

Tips?

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imourza
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Thank you for the info. I assume Step 1 should read "Upgraded from 5.0 U1 to 5.1" Smiley Happy, as downgrade is not supported.

By design, VUM 5.1 supports host upgrades via ISO images to the latest released version level - which, in this case, is ESXi 5.1. ISO images to which you pointed in step 2 are of lower ESXi version (5.0), therefore it is not a supported upgrade path in VUM 5.1.

If you want to upgrade ESXi hosts to ESXi 5.1 via VUM 5.1 - you should use ESXi 5.1 images.

If you want to upgrade ESXi hosts to ESXi 5.0 U1 and you don't have VC/VUM 5.0 in your environment - you would need to use different upgrade mechanism(s).

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Jim_Stiveson
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We are running on UCS and I did not use a custom Image for the upgrade to 5.0 ….

Jim Stiveson

Sr. Systems Administrator

Global Support Services

115 East 2nd Street

Suite 200

Owensboro, KY 42303

Phone: (270) 852-2218

Cell: (270) 584-3121

E-mail: jstiveson@centuryky.com<mailto:jstiveson@centuryky.com

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SubterraneanHom
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So, I guess that spooks me.

Why is there a Cisco custom image that his hosted by VMware no less, if we aren't supposed to use it?

http://derek858.blogspot.com/2012/09/updated-cisco-ucs-esxi-50-u1-custom-iso.html

What is that link about?

I'm not challenging you, btw, I'm just pretty cautious and trying to learn.

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imourza
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Hello, can you please tell me:

1. From which source VC/VUM versions you upgraded your system? (5.0 or 4.x?)

2. Which exact files (file names/URLs) did you download from VMW site for importing into VUM?

3. Are you importing images via "ESXi Images" tab of Update Manager Administration view?

Thanks.

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SubterraneanHom
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1. Thanks, upgraded to 5.1 from 5.0 Update 1

2. Downloaded the custom iso's from vmware:

https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/info/slug/datacenter_cloud_infrastructure/vmware_vsphere/5_0#driver...

Click on "OEM Customized installer CD's" and choose "Cisco Custom Image for ESXi 5.0 U1 GA Install CD."  and also tried "Cisco Custom Image for ESXi 5.0 Install CD"

Both get same result.

3. Yes.

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imourza
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Thank you for the info. I assume Step 1 should read "Upgraded from 5.0 U1 to 5.1" Smiley Happy, as downgrade is not supported.

By design, VUM 5.1 supports host upgrades via ISO images to the latest released version level - which, in this case, is ESXi 5.1. ISO images to which you pointed in step 2 are of lower ESXi version (5.0), therefore it is not a supported upgrade path in VUM 5.1.

If you want to upgrade ESXi hosts to ESXi 5.1 via VUM 5.1 - you should use ESXi 5.1 images.

If you want to upgrade ESXi hosts to ESXi 5.0 U1 and you don't have VC/VUM 5.0 in your environment - you would need to use different upgrade mechanism(s).

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RaZaKKaZaR
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Hello All,

Regarding the question of why to use the Cisco-customized vSphere 5.x installation ISO, they contain the versions of HW drivers that Cisco Engineering teams verified with that version of vSphere.

This is especially important for your NIC (enic) and HBA (fnic) cards as you may not get the best performance with the drivers on the standard VMware ISO.

It is always best to check the UCS Interoperability Matrix to verify which driver versions you should be on.

If you want to check which driver version your vSphere server is on, use the following command:

~ # vmkload_mod -s enic | grep Version (change to fnic for your vHBA)

If you are on the wrong driver version, the correct version can also be downloaded from VMware under Driver CDs

Regards,

Trevor

www.VMTrooper.com

VCAP5-DCD,DCA * http://www.vmtrooper.com * If any of my responses have been helpful in any way, please rate accordingly. Thank you and Happy VM'ing! :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:
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SubterraneanHom
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imourza's answer appears to be the correct one, which we found out through some testing.

To clarify, by upgrading the VUM to 5.1, we apparently lost the ability to upgrade hosts to anything but 5.1.  So our 5.0 U1 upgrades were done through the KVM appliance in Cisco UCS.  Cisco also verified all of this.

Thanks again, lessoned learned. 

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