Command line update ESXi 6

Updating a standalone ESXi host is a very easy process with the built-in esxcli command. Here is the high-level process

NOTE: All ESXi embedded patches are cumulative. It means it contains ALL patches. You only need to download the latest version and can safely ignore the rest

1. Download the latest ESXi Embedded Installable from here: http://www.vmware.com/patchmgr/findPatch.portal
2. Upload the downloaded bundle do a datastore accessible by your ESXi host. I use the built-in datastore browser
3. Put the ESXi host in maintenance mode
4. Login with SSH to the ESXi host
5. Use the following command to update: esxcli software vib update -d /vmfs/volumes/local/ESXi600-201610001.zip
6. Reboot the ESXi host
7. Exit maintenance mode

Here are some pictures of the process:

Picture 1: ESXi version 3620759 before the update

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picture 2: Use the datastore browser to upload the downloaded ESXi bundle to a datastore

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picture 3: esxcli software vib update

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picture 4: After reboot ESXi updated to 4510822