This tutorial is to show how to update/patch a VMware ESXi 6.7 server.
This case is to update ESXi 6.7 P01 (build#15160138) to ESXi 6.7 EP 15(build#16316930).
Version | Version | Release Name | Release Date | Build Number |
Current version | ESXi 6.7 P01 | ESXi670-201912001 | 12/05/2019 | 15160138 |
Target version | ESXi 6.7 EP 15 | ESXi670-202006001 | 06/09/2020 | 16316930 |
Preparation
1. Verify the current version
- SSH to the ESXi host
- # vmware -v

2. Download the patch file from VMware patch Portal
- https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/patch#search
- In this case, build number 16316930

3. Upload the patch to a datastore on the host
- Note: VMware recommends creating a new directory on the datastore and uploading the patch file to this directory.

4. Enable ESXi Shell (formerly known as Tech Support Mode)
- Log on to vCenter → Select the host → Configure → System → Services → Start ESXi Shell

Patch installation
1. Migrate or power off the VMs running on the host
2. Put the host into Maintenance mode
- # vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter
3. cd to the directory on the datastore where the patch file was uploaded
- # cd /vmfs/volumes/Datastore/DirectoryName

4. to update
- # esxcli software vib update -d “/vmfs/volumes/Datastore/DirectoryName/PatchName.zip”

5. Reboot the server for the changes to be effective
6. Check the ESXi version is updated successfully

7. Exit maintenance mode after server reboots
- # vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_exit