You can automate the installation of vCenter Server software updates to ensure that your system is stable and protected. Software updates can include security fixes, performance optimizations, and new features.
Security patches usually address vulnerabilities in third-party components and do not affect the vCenter Server functionality. vCenter Server bug fixes can introduce changes to the functionality without affecting the data format or database schema of the system.
Each update contains metadata with information about the updated content, for example, whether high-priority OS updates are included. The update metadata includes a list of components to be updated, the release date of the update, a list of fixed issues, time and disk space requirements, and information whether a reboot is required. The metadata can also contain a new vCenter Server version number, including a build number. In addition to the metadata, an update can contain optional components such as update scripts, new versions of vCenter Server software components, and new versions of OS components.
vCenter Server can obtain software updates from either a URL or an ISO image. The URL can either point to the VMware Web repository or to a custom repository in which you upload the updates in ZIP format. To perform an update by using an ISO image, attach the image to the CD/DVD drive of the vCenter Server instance.
There are multiple phases of the update process. For details, see vCenter Server Software Update Workflow.
If you want to prevent issues related to the possibility of update installation failures, you should create a backup or take a snapshot of your vCenter Server instance before you start the update process. A backup can also be useful when an update is successfully installed. For example, you might decide to revert to the previous version if you encounter any undesired system behavior related to functional changes in the new software version.
Operation |
Description |
|---|---|
Get state information |
You can retrieve information about the update state. |
Check for update |
You can check whether a new update is available. |
Get update information |
You can retrieve information about the available updates. |
Get update requirements |
You can retrieve information about the update requirements. |
Stage |
You can initiate the download of the update.
Note:
The check phase must have completed successfully before you can stage the update. |
Get staging status |
You can retrieve information about the status of the stage operation.
Note:
You must provide the task ID value that you received as a response when you initiated the stage operation. |
Install |
You can initiate the installation of the update.
Note:
The update must be staged before you can install it. |
Get installation status |
You can retrieve information about the status of the install operation.
Note:
You must provide the task ID value that you received as a response when you initiated the install operation. |
Stage and install |
You can initiate the download of the update and the installation starts when the download completes. |
You can run software update operations by using the vSphere Automation SDK or sending an HTTP request. You can use interfaces from the com.vmware.appliance.update package to perform the operations. For more information, see the Java API Reference documentation.
