Can not upgrade above 6.0

[deaktamashu]

Dears,
I have  the system below and I can not upgrade it above this 6.0.

When I tr to boot from 6.5 ISO-s the "Upgade" offer is not appears, only new install.
I successfully upgraded using these isos:

• VMware-VMvisor-Installer-6.0.0.update02-3620759.x86_64-Dell_Customized-A02.iso
• VMware-VMvisor-Installer-6.0.0.update02-5251623.x86_64-Dell_Customized-A06
• VMware-VMvisor-Installer-6.0.0.update03-13635687.x86_64-DellEMC_Customized_A15

Then I tried to boot from  these isos:

• VMware-VMvisor-Installer-6.5.0-4564106.x86_64-Dell_Customized-A00.iso
• VMware-VMvisor-Installer-6.5.0-5310538.x86_64-Dell_Customized-A03.iso
• VMware-VMvisor-Installer-6.5.0.update01-7967591.x86_64-DellEMC_Customized-A11.iso

All above failed. Is there any idea how can I go to 6.5 ?

[root@localhost:~] esxcli software profile get
(Updated) DellEMC-ESXi-6.0U3-13635687-A15
   Name: (Updated) DellEMC-ESXi-6.0U3-13635687-A15
   Vendor: Dell
   Creation Time: 2023-09-16T20:41:57
   Modification Time: 2023-09-16T20:43:50
   Stateless Ready: False
   Description:

      2023-09-16T20:41:57.254437+00:00: Host is upgraded with
      following VIBs from original image profile DELL-
      ESXi-6.0U2-5251623-A06:
        ima-qla4xxx   500.2.02.20-1vmw.0.5.021123
        scsi-qla4xxx  644.55.37.0-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820
      ----------
      Updates ESXi 6.0 Image Profile-ESXi-6.0.0-20190504001-standard

[Sachchidanand]

Any specific error you are getting while upgrading?

Have you checked the compatibility matrix for your server?

https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php

Regards,

Sachchidanand

[markey165]

@deaktamashu 

Have a look at this communities thread on the same issue

https://communities.vmware.com/t5/ESXi-Discussions/No-UPGRADE-option-available-after-failed-installa...

To expand on the above, check the contents of ls /bootbank and compare it to the contents of /atlbootbank. Suspect the latter is empty or near empty.

Copy the files across using the command cp /bootbank/* /altbootbank/ and try again.

Let us know if that fixes it 😊

HTH

[dtamas]

@markey165 

Here are the 2 folders. I tried to copy and started the installed but still the same.
Only the install appears no Upgrade option available.

[markey165]

@dtamas - It is not clear from your reply whether /altbootbank was missing any files prior to copy or whether it looked good to begin with

When you say you "tried" to copy did it actually copy anything or were there any errors?

Also have a look at this article for possible clues. One of the posters in the thread I posted previously references this KB as helping him with this issue.

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2007163

HTH

[dtamas]

@markey165 
When I saif "tried" it means I checked both folder content and I found some missing files so I copied..

Now they are same:

/bootbank
[root@localhost:/vmfs/volumes/8e8ac3ec-309ff033-6032-887265107fbb] ls -l
total 183677

/altbootbank

[root@localhost:/vmfs/volumes/5850f4e2-f09f1bce-50a0-2aaf01b3f492] ls -l
total 183677

Then I restarted the machine and booted from media and saw the same, no Upgrade function.

Another machine:
I build up another R730 and installed the same iso and tried to upgrade. On that system the Upgrade option appears and Upgrade works.

[markey165]

Sorry to hear that didn't work. Its a bit of an odd one, but I posted it as that's the only matching solution i could find.

I forgot to post the KB in the above post, now updated, have a look at that and see if that helps. 

If no success there, if its possible, I'd suggest at this point its easier to clean install than troubleshoot further. Or you could raise a support ticket. They may be able to troubleshoot and help further.

HTH