You can stage patches and extensions before remediation to ensure that the patches and extensions are downloaded to the host. Staging patches and extensions is an optional step that can reduce the time during which hosts are in maintenance mode.

Staging patches and extensions to hosts lets you download the patches and extensions from the Update Manager repository to the ESXi hosts without applying the patches or extensions immediately. Staging patches and extensions speeds up the remediation process, because staging makes the patches and extensions available locally on the hosts.

Important: Update Manager can stage patches to PXE booted ESXi hosts.

For more information about staging patches, see Staging Patches and Extensions to ESXi Hosts.