You can configure Update Manager to use a shared repository as a source for downloading ESXi patches, extensions, and notifications.

Prerequisites

  • Create a shared repository using UMDS, and host the repository on a Web server or a local disk. The UMDS version must be compatible with your Update Manager installation. For more information about compatibility, see Compatibility Between UMDS and the Update Manager Server. You can find the detailed procedure about exporting the upgrades, patch binaries, patch metadata, and notifications in Export the Downloaded Data.
  • Required privileges: VMware vSphere Update Manager.Configure.

Procedure

  1. In the vSphere Client, select Menu > Update Manager.
  2. Navigate to Menu > Update Manager.
  3. Click the Settings tab.
  4. Select Administration Settings > Patch Setup.
  5. Click the Change Download Source button.
    The Change Download Source Type dialog box opens.
  6. Select the option Download patches from a UMDS shared repository.
  7. Enter the path or the URL to the shared repository.
    For example, C:\repository_path\, https://repository_path/, or http://repository_path/.
    In these examples, repository_path is the path to the folder with the exported downloaded upgrades, patches, extensions, and notifications. In an environment where the Update Manager server does not have direct access to the Internet, but is connected to a physical machine that has access to the Internet, the folder can be on a Web server.

    You can specify an HTTP or HTTPS address, or a location on the disk where Update Manager is installed. HTTPS addresses are supported without any authentication.

    Important: You cannot use folders on a network drive as a shared repository. Update Manager does not download updates from folders on a network share either in the Microsoft Windows Uniform Naming Convention form (such as \\Computer_Name_or_Computer_IP\Shared), or on a mapped network drive (for example, Z:\).
  8. Click Save.
    The vSphere Client validates the URL.
    Important: If the updates in the folder that you specify are downloaded with a UMDS version that is not compatible with the Update Manager version that you use, the validation fails and you receive an error message.

    You must make sure that the validation is successful. If the validation fails, Update Manager reports a reason for the failure. You can use the path to the shared repository only when the validation is successful.

Results

The shared repository is used as a source for downloading upgrades, patches, and notifications.

Example: Using a Folder or a Server as a Shared Repository

You can use a folder or a Web server as a shared repository.

  • When you use a folder as a shared repository, repository_path is the top-level directory that stores the patches and notifications exported from UMDS.

    For example, use UMDS to export the patches and notifications to the F:\ drive, which is a drive mapped to a plugged-in USB device on a physical machine where UMDS is installed. Then, plug in the USB device to the physical machine where the Update Manager is installed. The device is mapped as E:\ and the folder to configure as a shared repository in the Update Manager is E:\.

  • When you use a Web server as a shared repository, repository_path is the top-level directory on the Web server that stores the patches exported from UMDS.

    For example, export the patches and notifications from UMDS to C:\docroot\exportdata. If the folder is configured on a Web server and is accessible from other physical machines at the URL https://umds_host_name/exportdata, the URL to configure as a shared repository in Update Manager is https://umds_host_name/exportdata.

What to do next

To download all updates immediately, select Administration Settings > Patch Downloads and click Download Now.