Installation guide
Update an ESX/ESXi Host Using a Depot with the vihostupdate Utility
You can use the vihostupdate utility in conjunction with bundles or with a depot. This topic describe the
procedure using depots.
Prerequisites
Before you can update or patch an ESX/ESXi host from the command line, you must have access to a machine
on which you can run the VMware vSphere Command-Line Interface (vSphere CLI). You can install the
vSphere CLI on your Microsoft Windows or Linux system or import the VMware vSphere Management
Assistant (vMA) virtual appliance onto your ESX/ESXi host. For information about importing or installing the
vSphere CLI, see the VMware vSphere Command-Line Interface Installation and Reference Guide.
Procedure
1 Power off any virtual machines that are running on the host and place the host into maintenance mode.
2 Scan the depot for bulletins that are applicable to the host:
vihostupdate.pl --server
<server>
--scan --metadata http://
<webserver>
/depot/metadata.zip
The --server argument is the ESX/ESXi host name or IP address.
Do not specify more than one ZIP file at the command line each time you run the command. If you specify
--metadata more than once, the command processes only the last file that was specified.
3 (Optional) List all bulletins in the depot at the metadata.zip file location:
vihostupdate.pl --list --metadata http://
<webserver>
/depot/metadata.zip
This command lists all the bulletins in the depot, even those that do not apply to the host.
4 Install bulletins in the depot on the host:
vihostupdate.pl --install --metadata http://
<webserver>
/depot/metadata.zip --bulletin
bulletin1,bulletin2
If you omit the --bulletin argument, this command installs all the bulletins in the bundle.
5 Verify that the bulletins are installed on your ESX/ESXi host.
vihostupdate.pl --server
<server>
--query
6 (Optional) Remove individual bulletins.
vihostupdate.pl --server
<server>
--remove --bulletin bulletin1
Use this option only for removing bulletins that are third-party or VMware extensions. Do not remove
bulletins that are VMware patches or updates. vihostupdate can remove only one bulletin at a time.
Uninstall a Bundle from a Host
Use this procedure to uninstall bulletins that are third-party or VMware extensions.
Do not remove bulletins that are VMware patches or updates.
Prerequisites
Before you can uninstall an update or patch from an ESX/ESXi host from the command line, you must have
access to a machine on which you can run the VMware vSphere Command-Line Interface (vSphere CLI). You
can install the vSphere CLI on your Microsoft Windows or Linux system or import the VMware vSphere
Management Assistant (vMA) virtual appliance onto your ESX/ESXi host. For information about deploying or
installing the vSphere CLI, see the VMware vSphere Command-Line Interface Installation and Reference Guide.
vSphere Upgrade Guide
104 VMware, Inc.