how to update esxi 5?

I have an ESXi 5 host (free) and vSphere Client. I would like to update to u1 but I cannot find the way to do it. Updates are ZIP files with modules in it; no installer. vSphere client doesn't have an update module.

Thanks!

[edit]

/vmfs/volumes/4f255b5c-6acfd348-d53c-00e04c68ee7a/esxi_update # esxcli software vib install -d /vmfs/volumes/4f255b5c-6acfd348-d53c-00e04c68ee7a/esxi_update/update-from-esxi5.0-5.0_update01.zip
 [InstallationError]
 [Errno 32] Broken pipe
       vibs = VMware_locker_tools-light_5.0.0-1.11.623860
 Please refer to the log file for more details.
/vmfs/volumes/4f255b5c-6acfd348-d53c-00e04c68ee7a/esxi_update # esxcli software vib install -d /vmfs/volumes/4f255b5c-6acfd348-d53c-00e04c68ee7a/esxi_update/update-from-esxi5.0-5.0_update01.zip
 [InstallationError]
 [Errno 32] Broken pipe
       vibs = VMware_locker_tools-light_5.0.0-1.11.623860
 Please refer to the log file for more details.
/vmfs/volumes/4f255b5c-6acfd348-d53c-00e04c68ee7a/esxi_update # esxcli software vib install -d /vmfs/volumes/4f255b5c-6acfd348-d53c-00e04c68ee7a/esxi_update/ESXi500-201205001.zip
 [InstallationError]
 [Errno 32] Broken pipe
       vibs = VMware_locker_tools-light_5.0.0-1.12.653509
 Please refer to the log file for more details.

[edit]

"install" -> "update"

Message: The update completed successfully, but the system needs to be rebooted for the changes to be effective.

    /vmfs/volumes/4f255b5c-6acfd348-d53c-00e04c68ee7a/esxi_update # esxcli software vib update -d /vmfs/volumes/4f255b5c-6acfd348-d53c-00e04c68ee7a/esxi_update/update-from-esxi5.0-5.0_update01.zip
Installation Result
   Message: The update completed successfully, but the system needs to be rebooted for the changes to be effective.
   Reboot Required: true
   VIBs Installed: VMware_bootbank_ehci-ehci-hcd_1.0-3vmw.500.1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.0.0-1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_misc-drivers_5.0.0-1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_net-e1000e_1.1.2-3vmw.500.1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_net-nx-nic_4.0.557-3vmw.500.1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_sata-ahci_3.0-6vmw.500.1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_sata-ata-piix_2.12-4vmw.500.1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aacraid_1.1.5.1-9vmw.500.1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-sas_5.34-1vmw.500.1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mpt2sas_06.00.00.00-6vmw.500.1.11.623860
   VIBs Removed: VMware_bootbank_ehci-ehci-hcd_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.0.0-0.7.515841, VMware_bootbank_misc-drivers_5.0.0-0.7.515841, VMware_bootbank_net-e1000e_1.1.2-3vmw.500.0.7.515841, VMware_bootbank_net-nx-nic_4.0.557-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_sata-ahci_3.0-6vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_sata-ata-piix_2.12-4vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aacraid_1.1.5.1-9vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-sas_4.32-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mpt2sas_06.00.00.00-5vmw.500.0.0.469512
   VIBs Skipped: VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-amd_0.3.10-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-atiixp_0.4.6-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-cmd64x_0.2.5-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-hpt3x2n_0.3.4-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-pdc2027x_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-serverworks_0.4.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-sil680_0.4.8-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-via_0.3.3-2vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_block-cciss_3.6.14-10vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_esx-tboot_5.0.0-0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ima-qla4xxx_2.01.07-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-devintf_39.1-4vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-msghandler_39.1-4vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-si-drv_39.1-4vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_misc-cnic-register_1.1-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-be2net_4.0.88.0-1vmw.500.0.7.515841, VMware_bootbank_net-bnx2_2.0.15g.v50.11-5vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-bnx2x_1.61.15.v50.1-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-cnic_1.10.2j.v50.7-2vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-e1000_8.0.3.1-2vmw.500.0.7.515841, VMware_bootbank_net-enic_1.4.2.15a-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-forcedeth_0.61-2vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-igb_2.1.11.1-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-ixgbe_2.0.84.8.2-10vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-r8168_8.013.00-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-r8169_6.011.00-2vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-s2io_2.1.4.13427-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-sky2_1.20-2vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-tg3_3.110h.v50.4-4vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ohci-usb-ohci_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-nv_3.5-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-promise_2.12-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-sil_2.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-svw_2.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-adp94xx_1.0.8.12-6vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aic79xx_3.1-5vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-bnx2i_1.9.1d.v50.1-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-fnic_1.5.0.3-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-hpsa_5.0.0-17vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-ips_7.12.05-4vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-lpfc820_8.2.2.1-18vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-mbox_2.20.5.1-6vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid2_2.00.4-9vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptsas_4.23.01.00-5vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptspi_4.23.01.00-5vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-qla2xxx_901.k1.1-14vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-qla4xxx_5.01.03.2-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-rste_2.0.2.0088-1vmw.500.1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_uhci-usb-uhci_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_locker_tools-light_5.0.0-1.11.623860

Solution 1:

In order to update ESXi without vSphere, you will have to perform the update from the command line. That means enabling SSH and console access to the host and placing the update files on an accessible datastore.

The core command will be:

esxcli software vib update -d /vmfs/volumes/[DATASTORE]/[PATCH_FILE].zip

The guide here is also helpful...

http://www.chriscolotti.us/vmware/vsphere/how-to-patch-vsphere-5-esxi-without-update-manager/

Solution 2:

One method is to update the system via the command line.

Grab the lastest package from here. As of today, that is ESXi500-201205001.

Transfering the update zip file to a datastore on that is visible to the host.

Use commands like the following to apply the update.

# check server status
vicfg-hostops --server servername --username root --operation info

# start maint mode (you should stop any running VMs)
vicfg-hostops --server servername --username root --operation enter

# examine upgrade package
esxcli --server servername --username root software sources profile list --depot=[datastore1]/ESXi500-201112001.zip

# perform a dry run of the upgrade
esxcli --server servername --username root software profile install --depot=[datastore1]/ESXi500-201112001.zip --profile=ESXi-5.0.0-20111204001-standard --dry-run

# perform the upgrade
esxcli --server servername --username root software profile install --depot=[datastore1]/ESXi500-201112001.zip --profile=ESXi-5.0.0-20111204001-standard

# reboot the server
vicfg-hostops --server servername --username root --operation reboot

# examine the system post update, to verify the update applied.
esxcli --server servername --username root software vib list

See:

  • Patching ESXi from the Command Line
  • Upgrading Hosts by Using esxcli Commands

The most recent vSphere Management Assistant appliance VM can be found here. This is a VM with the remote CLI package installed. The remote CLI package can be found here.