ESXi Patching using VMware Update manager V1.

Revision History

Date Version Description Author

16/5/2019 1.0 Initial Draft Shijoy
Athiparambath
22/5/2019 1.1 Added points based on Kannan review Shijoy
Athiparambath

Reviewers

Name Title
Neeraj Kumar Completed on 17/5/2019
Kannan Hariharan Completed on 22/5/2019
Joe Beaton
Scope
This document contains relevant step by step information about how to Patch ESXi host Using VMware
update manager. This scope holds true for all GIS managed Datacenter and the agreed timeline to
perform patching is on quarterly basis. Critical and Important patches from VMware and HPE will be
installed.

Purpose

This document helps Windows and VMware administrator to effectively plan and execute VMware
ESXi host patching using VMware update manager.

Access Requirements

The level of access required is detailed below:

Asset Type Access Privilege Access Status

ESXi Server Root

VCenter Server Administrator

ILO Manage
Pre-installation Steps

 Raise all the required requests for the Activity and get the approvals
 Backup Host configuration & RVtools data
 Login to ILO console and make sure there are no errors in the logs

Installation steps

 Change the DRS to manual or fully automated

 Login to vCenter and put host in to maintenance mode. Right click on hostenter maintenance
mode. (If the host is part of an automated DRS cluster, virtual machines are migrated to
different hosts when the host enters maintenance mode.)
 Once migration is completed change DRS mode to Manual
 Add HP repository http://vibsdepot.hpe.com/index.xml to update manager Download source in
update manager settings.
 Choose the host to patch and go to Update manager Tab
 Click on Attach Baseline. Select predefined host patch baselines (Non-critical host patches &
Critical host patches).
 Create a new Baseline for HP patching. Select baseline type as Host Baseline
 Click on Scan for Updates. Select Patches and extensions. Once scanning is completed check
compliance status. Host need to be patched if the status is Non-Compliant
 Click on Stage patches. On Stage patches Wizard select the baselines (VMware and HPE) and
host to be patched. Click next
 A list of Applicable Patches will be displayed. Verify and click Next
 Click Finish to start patch download.
 Once Patches are downloaded click on Remediate button to open the Wizard
 Select host and baselinesreview the patchesfinish
 VMUM will start patch ins
 Once rebooted host will come up automatically

Post installation/Testing

 Open VMUM and scan to see if any patches are pending (Should be green and compliant)
 Verify all datastores are accessible from the ESXi servers.
 Verify all paths are active.
 Verify all the Hardware components are Healthy.
 Ensure ILO is accessible and able to login via DCUI of the ESXi servers
 Exit maintenance mode.
 Move a test server to Patched host. Verify network connection and hard drives are present.
Verify the application is working as expected (Windows and VMware teams will co-ordinate for
testing hosts and servers post patching)
 Change the DRS settings to fully automated. VM’s will be migrated back to host automatically
 Once migrated continue with the next host in the cluster

Roll back Patches

 Press F12 to view the shutdown options for the ESXi host.
 Press F11 to reboot.
 When the Hypervisor progress bar starts loading, press Shift+R
 Press Y to roll back the build.
 Press Enter to boot.