6.0.2

Procedure
1 Check whether the host is in maintenance mode.
vicfg-hostops --server=server_name --operation info
2 Power o each virtual machines running on the ESXi host.
Option Command
To shut down the guest operating
system and then power off the
virtual machine
vmware-cmd --server=server_name path_to_vm stop soft
To force the power off operation
vmware-cmd --server=server_name path_to_vm stop hard
Alternatively, to avoid powering o virtual machines, you can migrate them to another host. See the
topic Migrating Virtual Machines in the vCenter Server and Host Management documentation.
3 Place the host in maintenance mode.
vicfg-hostops --server=server_name --operation enter
4 Verify that the host is in maintenance mode.
vicfg-hostops --server=server_name --operation info
Update a Host with Individual VIBs
You can update a host with VIBs stored in a software depot that is accessible through a URL or in an oine
ZIP depot.
I 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 specied for
VMware-supplied depots in the topic “Upgrade or Update a Host with Image Proles,” on page 194.
The esxcli software vib update and esxcli software vib install commands are not supported for
upgrade operations. See “Dierences Between vSphere Upgrades and Updates,” on page 25 and “Upgrade
or Update a Host with Image Proles,” on page 194.
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 conguration le or session le, are supported. For a list
of connection options, see Geing Started with vSphere Command-Line Interfaces, or run esxcli --help at the
vCLI command prompt.
Prerequisites
n
Install vCLI or deploy the vSphere Management Assistant (vMA) virtual machine. See Geing Started
with vSphere Command-Line Interfaces. For troubleshooting, run esxcli commands in the ESXi Shell.
n
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,”
on page 191. See “Place a Host in Maintenance Mode,” on page 192.
n
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
Chapter 9 Upgrading Hosts
VMware, Inc. 193