HOW TO: Update VMware ESXi 7.0 GA to ESXi 7.0bs direct from VMware.

• On the 23 June 2020, VMware released the first updates for ESXi 7.0 Build 15843807, which is known as the general availability build of the product, or ESXi 7.0 GA. Two updates were released 7.0b and 7.0bs

The VMware release notes are here. But ESXi 7.0b includes security and bug fixes, and ESXi 7.0bs includes only security fixes.

VMware has decided to issue two updates because some organisations need to verify bug fixes as part of their change control management cycle, but security updates are classed as a critical emergency change.

To get your system up to the latest release, this article will show you how to update ESXi 7.0 GA to ESXi 7.0bs in 2 easy steps. In this tutorial, the version of ESXi 7.0 installed is ESXi 7.0 GA, which is the GA release of ESXi 7.0, released on the 2 April 2020, but this article can be followed to upgrade any version of ESXi 7.0 GA . If your ESXi host has access to the internet, this method will pull the update direct from the internet and update the ESXi host. If you prefer the slower old fashioned method or your host does not have access to this internet, please follow this article - HOW TO: Update VMware ESXi 7.0 GA to ESXi 7.0bs in 5 easy steps

VMware has removed my older legacy processors (CPUs) from ESXi 7.0 GA, and also storage and network controllers, please check the VMware Hardware Compatability Lists  (HCL)  here.

The VMware Hardware Compatibility List is the list showing actual vendor devices that have been tested and certified by VMware or VMware partners. Items on the list are tested with VMware products and are known to operate correctly. Devices which are not on the list may function, but will not be supported by VMware, and may cause issues.

Before we get started:

It is important to ensure you have valid backups of your virtual machines before you make any changes to a Production VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 7.0 Host server, which is hosting virtual machines. All virtual machines must be powered off with the server in maintenance mode.

Here are the steps to upgrade your software:

 

1. Connect to the ESXi 7.0 host server via SSH

• Connect to the ESXi 7.0 host server via SSH. If your ESXi 7.0 server is not enabled for SSH, please see my Experts Exchange article Part 5: HOW TO: Enable SSH Remote Access on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7.0 (ESXi 7.0)

• Step 3 in the following Experts Exchange article details SSH access to an ESXi host server: Part 4: HOW TO: Upload and Check the MD5 signature of an ISO CD/DVD image to a VMware datastore using the VMware Host Client, for use with VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7.0 (ESXi 7.0)

• There is no requirement to download the update from the internet and upload to a datastore using this method.

At the console prompt, type  

vmware -l

to confirm the ESXi version. VMware ESXi 7.0 GA or later should be returned, though this will depend upon whether any patches have been applied. In this tutorial, the build installed is 7.0 GA. 

2. Use esxcli at the console command line to update the server

• At the console, type:

esxcli system maintenanceMode set -e true

this command enables maintenance mode. The host ESXi server must be in maintenance mode to be patched and updated. Virtual machines must be powered off.

esxcli network firewall ruleset set -e true -r httpClient

this command enables httpClient via the firewall.

esxcli software profile update -p ESXi-7.0bs-16321839-standard -d https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/main/vmw-depot-index.xml

this command pulls the update direct from the internet and updates the host and applies it to the host.

• The above command does not produce any feedback if entered correctly. After approximately 20 seconds, the upgrade should be completed, however, we have found that if you are using slow USB flash drives and SD cards, this can take considerably longer for the files to be written. You will be presented with the following screen upon completion:
  
  

• If all is well you should see an update screen, as above, you may have to scroll the screen to see all the information. But check the update result, at the top. The update completed successfully, but the system needs to be rebooted for the changes to be effective.

• You should be able to see new VIB packages installed, removed, and some have been skipped. If you are using an OEM version of VMware ESXi 7.0 (e.g. from HP, IBM or Dell) your output could be different.

• Type 

esxcli network firewall ruleset set -e false -r httpClient

• to disable the httpClient rule you enabled earlier.

reboot

• to reboot the server.

5. Check the ESXi 7.0 GA Host server has been updated.

• Check the following:

Congratulations, you have successfully updated your host server from VMware ESXi 7.0 GA to VMware ESXi 7.0bs. This method works for all versions of ESXi and updates, you just need to change the updates!

Basic VMware Articles Series:

These articles are also applicable to VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 5.0, 5.5, 6.0.
 

• Part 1: HOW TO: Install and Configure VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1)

 

• Part 2: HOW TO: Connect to the VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) using the vSphere Client

 

• Part 3: HOW TO: Create an ISO CD-ROM/DVD-ROM image (*.iso), and MD5 checksum signature, for use with VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1)

 

• Part 4: HOW TO: Upload an ISO CD-ROM/DVD-ROM image to a VMware datastore for use with VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) using the vSphere Client, and checking its MD5 checksum signature is correct.

 

• Part 5: HOW TO: Enable SSH Remote Access on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1)

 

• Part 6: HOW TO: Create your first Linux Virtual Machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) Host Server

 

• Part 7: HOW TO: Create your first Windows Virtual Machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) Host Server

 

• Part 8: HOW TO: Install VMware Tools for Windows on a VMware Windows virtual machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) Host Server

 

• Part 9: HOW TO: Install VMware Tools for Linux on a VMware Linux virtual machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) Host Server

 

• Part 10: HOW TO: Backup (Export) and Restore (Import) virtual machines to VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 for FREE

 

• Part 11: HOW TO: Suppress Configuration Issues System logs on the host are stored on non-persistent storage

 

• Part 12: HOW TO: Configure and Replace the SSL Certificate on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) Host Server

 

• Part 13: HOW TO: Configure basic networking on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) Host Server

These articles are applicable to VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5.

• Part 1:  HOW TO: Install and Configure VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5 (ESXi 6.5)

• Part 2: HOW TO: Connect to the VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5 (ESXi 6.5) using the vSphere (HTML5 Web) Host Client 6.5

• Part 3: HOW TO: Create an ISO CD-ROM/DVD-ROM image (*.iso), and MD5 checksum signature, for use with VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5 (ESXi 6.5)

• Part 4: HOW TO: Upload an ISO image to a VMware datastore for use with VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5 (ESXi 6.5) using the vSphere Host Client, and checking its MD5 checksum signature is correct.

• Part 5: HOW TO: Enable SSH Remote Access on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5 (ESXi 6.5)

• Part 6: HOW TO: Suppress Configuration Issues and Warnings Alert displayed in Summary status for ESXi 6.5 after enabling SSH or ESXi Shell

• Part 7: HOW TO: Create your first Windows Virtual Machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5 (ESXi 6.5) Host Server

• Part 8: HOW TO: Install VMware Tools for Windows on a VMware Windows virtual machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5 (ESXi 6.5) Host Server

• HOW TO: Deploy and Install the VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 (VCSA 6.5)

These articles are applicable to VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.7.

• Part 1: HOW TO: Install and Configure VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.7 (ESXi 6.7

• Part 2: HOW TO: Connect to the VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.7 (ESXi 6.7) using the vSphere (HTML5 Web) Host Client 6.7

• Part 3: HOW TO: Create an ISO CD-ROM/DVD-ROM image (*.iso), and MD5 checksum signature, for use with VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.7 (ESXi 6.7)

• Part 4: HOW TO: Upload an ISO image to a VMware datastore for use with VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.7 (ESXi 6.7) using the vSphere Host Client, and checking its MD5 checksum signature is correct.

• Part 5: HOW TO: Enable SSH Remote Access on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.7 (ESXi 6.7)

• Part 6: HOW TO: Suppress Configuration Issues and Warnings Alert displayed in Summary status for ESXi 6.7 after enabling SSH or ESXi Shell.

• HOW TO: Update VMware ESXi 6.7 GA to ESXi 6.7U3(a) in 5 easy steps.

• HOW TO: Update VMware ESXi 6.7 GA to ESXi 6.7U3(a) direct from VMware.  
  

Previous articles in this VMware vSphere 7.0 series are here.

• Part 1: HOW TO: Install and Configure VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7.0 (ESXi 7.0)

• Part 2: HOW TO: Connect to the VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7.0 (ESXi 7.0) using the vSphere (HTML5 Web) Host Client 7.0

• Part 3: HOW TO: Create an ISO CD-ROM/DVD-ROM image (*.iso), and MD5 checksum signature, for use with VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7.0 (ESXi 7.0)

• Part 4: HOW TO: Upload and Check the MD5 signature of an ISO CD/DVD image to a VMware datastore using the VMware Host Client, for use with VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7.0 (ESXi 7.0)

• Part 5: HOW TO: Enable SSH Remote Access on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7.0 (ESXi 7.0)

• Part 6: HOW TO: Suppress Configuration Issues and Warnings Alert displayed in Summary status for ESXi 7.0 after enabling SSH or ESXi Shell.

• Part 7: HOW TO: Create your first Windows Virtual Machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7.0 (ESXi 7.0) Host Server

• Part 8: HOW TO: Install VMware Tools for Windows on a VMware Windows virtual machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7.0 (ESXi 7.0) Host Server

• Part 9: HOW TO: Create your first Linux Virtual Machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7.0 (ESXi 7.0) Host Server

• Part 10: HOW TO: Install VMware Tools for Linux on a VMware Linux virtual machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7.0 (ESXi 7.0) Host Server

• Part 11: HOW TO: Install open-vm-tools package for Linux on a VMware Linux virtual machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7.0 (ESXi 7.0) Host Server will show how to install open-vm-tools. 

• Part 12: HOW TO: Update VMware ESXi 6.7 to ESXi 7.0 GA in 5 easy steps.

• Part 13: HOW TO: Update VMware ESXi 6.7 to ESXi 7.0 GA direct from VMware.

• HOW TO: What is a VMware vExpert?

• Part 14: HOW TO:  P2V a Windows XP computer to VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7.0 (ESXi 7.0)

• HOW TO:  Make Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware Workstation function side by side.

• Part 15: HOW TO: Update VMware ESXi 7.0 GA to ESXi 7.0bs direct from VMware.

• Part 16: HOW TO: Update VMware ESXi 7.0 GA to ESXi 7.0b direct from VMware.

• Part 17: HOW TO: Update VMware ESXi 7.0 GA to ESXi 7.0bs in 5 easy steps.

• Part 18: HOW TO: Update VMware ESXi 7.0 GA to ESXi 7.0b in 5 easy steps

If you found this tutorial helpful, please do click the  Thumbs-Up  icon below. This lets me know what is valuable for EE members and provides direction for future articles. If you have a related question based on this article, please click  here.

Thank you very much! 

Regards, Andy