Exploring the Unseen:

How to Update VMware ESXi 8.x

In my private setup, I use VMware ESXi 8.x and find it essential to keep my system updated regularly. These updates not only introduce new features but also address potential vulnerabilities. In this guide, I’ll share my personal approach to updating my ESXi 8 server. Please note that this is based on my individual experience and is not intended as a recommendation or guarantee for businesses or professional environments.

Update Process

Activate SSH Console: This will allow you to input commands directly.

Log in via Putty or Console: Use Putty or the direct console to access ESXi 8. Log in as the ‘root’ user.

Check Current Version: Use the command vmware -vl to see your current ESXi version.

Enable HTTP Access: Since the update will be fetched online, you need to allow HTTP access. Use the command:

esxcli network firewall ruleset set -e true -r httpClient

Identify Available Profiles/Depots: To find out the available updates, use:

esxcli software sources profile list -d https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/main/vmw-depot-index.xml | grep -i ESXi-8.0

You can also manually downloading the update file from the VMware website. Once you have the file, you can upload it to a datastore accessible by your ESXi host. To check the profile name of the update file, which is crucial for ensuring compatibility and understanding the specifics of the update, you can use the following command:

esxcli software sources profile list -d /path/to/your/updatefile.zip

Switch to Maintenance Mode: Ensure no VM is running or switch to maintenance mode using:

esxcli system maintenanceMode set --enable true

Execute the Update: Use the following syntax to perform the update:

esxcli software profile update -d https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/main/vmw-depot-index.xml -p [Name_Version]-standard --no-hardware-warning

For example:

esxcli software profile update -d https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/main/vmw-depot-index.xml -p ESXi-8.0U1a-21813344-standard --no-hardware-warning

The software will be downloaded directly from VMware and installed. This might take a few minutes.

Check for Errors: After the update, ensure there are no errors. If successful, you should see a message indicating that a reboot is required.

Disable HTTP Access: For security reasons, disable HTTP access after the update using:

esxcli network firewall ruleset set -e false -r httpClient

Exit Maintenance Mode: Use the command:

esxcli system maintenanceMode set --enable false