You can update a host with VIBs stored in a software depot that is accessible through a URL or in an offline ZIP depot.

Important: If you are updating ESXi from a zip bundle in a VMware-supplied depot, either online from the VMware Web site or downloaded locally, VMware supports only the update method specified for VMware-supplied depots in the topic Upgrade or Update a Host with Image Profiles.

When you specify a target server by using --server=server_name, the server prompts you for a user name and password. Other connection options, such as a configuration file or session file, are supported. For a list of connection options, see Getting Started with vSphere Command-Line Interfaces, or run esxcli --help at the vCLI command prompt.

Prerequisites

  • Install vCLI or deploy the vSphere Management Assistant (vMA) virtual machine. See Getting Started with vSphere Command-Line Interfaces. For troubleshooting, run esxcli commands in the ESXi Shell.

  • Determine whether the update requires the host to be in maintenance mode or to be rebooted. If necessary, place the host in maintenance mode.

    See Determine Whether an Update Requires the Host to Be in Maintenance Mode or to Be Rebooted. See Place a Host in Maintenance Mode.

  • If the update requires a reboot, and if the host belongs to a VMware HA cluster, remove the host from the cluster or disable HA on the cluster.

Procedure

  1. Determine which VIBs are installed on the host.
    esxcli --server=server_name software vib list
  2. Find out which VIBs are available in the depot.
    Option Description
    from a depot accessible by URL esxcli --server=server_name software sources vib list --depot=http://web_server/depot_name
    from a local depot ZIP file esxcli --server=server_name software sources vib list --depot=absolute_path_to_depot_zip_file
    You can specify a proxy server by using the --proxy argument.
  3. Update the existing VIBs to include the VIBs in the depot or install new VIBs.
    Option Description
    Update VIBs from a depot accessible by URL esxcli --server=server_name software vib update --depot=http://web_server/depot_name
    Update VIBs from a local depot ZIP file esxcli --server=server_name software vib update --depot=absolute_path_to_depot_ZIP_file
    Install all VIBs from a ZIP file on a specified offline depot (includes both VMware VIBs and partner-supplied VIBs)

    esxcli --server=server_name software vib install --depot path_to_VMware_vib_ZIP_file\VMware_vib_ZIP_file --depot path_to_partner_vib_ZIP_file\partner_vib_ZIP_file

    Options for the update and install commands allow you to perform a dry run, to specify a specific VIB, to bypass acceptance level verification, and so on. Do not bypass verification on production systems. See the esxcli Reference at http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vcli/.

  4. Verify that the VIBs are installed on your ESXi host.
    esxcli --server=server_name software vib list