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Upgrading VMware ESXi via SSH

PUBLISHED ON 11/11/2019 — EDITED ON 11/12/2023 — SYSOPS

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Intro

Howto

Enable SSH access.

Check the version you are using.

[root@localhost:~] esxcli system version get
[root@localhost:~] esxcli software profile get

Allow httpClient through firewall.

[root@localhost:~] esxcli network firewall ruleset set -e true -r httpClient

Put the host into maintenance mode.

Check for the new versions.

[root@localhost:~] esxcli software sources profile list -d https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/main/vmw-depot-index.xml | grep ESXi-6.7.0

Upgrade.

[root@localhost:~] esxcli software profile update -d https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/main/vmw-depot-index.xml -p ESXi-6.7.0-20190802001-standard

 [InstallationError]
 [Errno 28] No space left on device
       vibs = VMware_locker_tools-light_10.3.10.12406962-14141615
 Please refer to the log file for more details.

Sometimes this error pops up, the solution is to enter the host web ui and go to Host > System > Swap and activate swap on your datastore vmfs.

[root@localhost:~] esxcli software profile update -d https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/main/vmw-depot-index.xml -p ESXi-6.7.0-20190802001-standard

Reboot.

Put the host out of the maintenance mode.