Update ESXi 6.0 from CLI on Standalone Host

Posted on by Jordansphere

In this example I will upgrading from ESXi 6.0 Update 2 to ESXi Update 3 on a standalone host.

1) Check current version: 

esxcli system version get

Output:

esxi-get-version1

 

2) Download the required file from VMware then upload zip file to temporary directory on the ESXi host. In this case I have created a directory called TEMP-PATCHES/ and uploaded the file via the traditional client. 

upload-iso1

upload-iso2

3) Put host in maintenance mode (Shut down VMs beforehand)

I normally do this via the client put the following command will also work:
  

vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter 

 

4) Check repository: 

esxcli software sources profile list --depot=/vmfs/volumes/datastore1/TEMP-PATCHES/update-from-esxi6.0-6.0_update03.zip

Output:

profile-versions

 

5) Dry run the install: 

esxcli software profile update --depot=/vmfs/volumes/datastore1/TEMP-PATCHES/update-from-esxi6.0-6.0_update03.zip --dry-run --profile=ESXi-6-XXXXXXX-standard

Output:

dry_run

 

6) Update the host: 

esxcli software profile update --depot=/vmfs/volumes/datastore1/TEMP-PATCHES/update-from-esxi6.0-6.0_update03.zip --profile=ESXi-6.0.0-20170202001-standard

Output:

install-profile

 

7) Reboot the host: 

reboot

 

8) Check the new version: 

esxcli system version get

Ouput:

esxi-get-version2

 

10) Take out of maintenance mode  (if SSH isnt stopped and started with host then you will have to use the client): 

vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_exit

 

11) Start VMs