Enable Remediation of PXE Booted ESXi Hosts in the vSphere Web Client

You can configure Update Manager to let other software initiate remediation of PXE booted ESXi hosts. The remediation installs patches and software modules on the hosts, but typically the host updates are lost after a reboot.

The global setting in the Update Manager Configuration tab enables solutions such as ESX Agent Manager or Cisco Nexus 1000V to initiate remediation of PXE booted ESXi hosts. In contrast, the Enable patch remediation of powered on PXE booted ESXi hosts setting in the Remediate wizard enables Update Manager to patch PXE booted hosts.

To retain updates on stateless hosts after a reboot, use a PXE boot image that contains the updates. You can update the PXE boot image before applying the updates with Update Manager, so that the updates are not lost because of a reboot. Update Manager itself does not reboot the hosts because it does not install updates requiring a reboot on PXE booted ESXi hosts.

Prerequisites

Required privileges: VMware vSphere Update Manager.Configure

Procedure

1. In the Home view of the vSphere Web Client, select the Update Manager icon.
2. From the Objects tab, select an Update Manager instance.
   The Objects tab also displays all the vCenter Server system to which an Update Manager instance is connected.
3. Click the Manage tab.
4. Click Settings, and select Host/Cluster Settings.
5. Click Edit.
   The Edit Host/Cluster Settings dialog box opens.
6. Under Host Settings, select Allow installation of additional software on PXE booted ESXi hosts.
   Selecting this option enables installation of software for solutions on PXE booted ESXi hosts in the vSphere inventory that you manage with this Update Manager instance.
7. Click OK.