Thursday, May 26, 2016

vCSA & PSC: Update/Patching options available

The update of either vCSA or PSC can be achieved through the VAMI interface which was introduced back in 6.0U1 or through the appliancesh command-line interface.

Method 1: VAMI and URL: 
This method requires internet access from your appliances.

  • Login to VAMI
  • https://vcenterserver.domain.com:5480/
    • U: root / P: password
  • From navigator select Update
  • This will display the current version details
  • Select Check Updates -> Check URL
  • This method will go out to VMware's repository https://vapp-updates.vmware.com/vai-catalog/valm/... and verify you are on latest.
  • If available updates then select the Install updates -> Install all updates
  • Accept EULA
  • Wait for updates to complete.



Method 2: VAMI and custom URL: 
This method can be used if you do not have internet access from your appliances by setting up a local repository.

  • Setup a webserver on your network (ISS or Apache) that will be accessible to the vCSA and PSC.
  • Create a directory called PSC_updates or VCSA updates.  Names can be changed.
  • On VMware support site now download update but make sure to download the zip update bundle.
  • Extract the zip update bundle to the folder you created earlier.
  • Login to VAMI
  • https://vcenterserver.domain.com:5480
    • U: root / P: password
  • From navigator select Settings
  • Select "Use specified repository"
  • Click OK
  • Select Check for updates
  • If available updates then select the Install updates -> Install all update
  • Accept EULA
  • Wait for updates to complete
Method 3: VAMI and CDROM:

This method is pretty straight forward.

  • On VMware support site download the ISO for latest vCSA and/or PSC.
  • Login to vCenter Web client
  • Select vCSA or PSC appliance VM
  • Launch remote console
  • Select VMRC -> Removable devices -> CD/DVD drive 1 -> Connect to Disk Image File (iso)
  • Mount the ISO downloaded from VMware support site
  • Login to VAMI
  • https://vcenterserver.domain.com:5480/
    • U: root / P: password
  • From navigator select Update
  • Select Check Updates
  • Select Check CDROM
  • If available updates then select the Install updates -> Install all update
  • Accept EULA
  • Wait for updates to complete
Method 4: Using appliancesh command line

This method was the only way to update the appliance when vCenter 6 was released since the VAMI was only introduced in 6.0U1.  You can either mount and ISO or point to a URL for updates.  The URL can be the default VMware or 

  • On VMware support site download the ISO for latest vCSA and/or PSC.
  • Select vCSA or PSC appliance VM
  • Launch remote console
  • Select VMRC -> Removable devices -> CD/DVD drive 1 -> Connect to Disk Image File (iso)
  • Mount the ISO downloaded from VMware support site
  • SSH to VCSA or PSC
  • type # appliancesh
  • enter root password
  • To use CDROM
    • type # software-packages install --iso --acceptEulas
  • To use default VMware URL 
    • type # software-packages --url (This will use the default vmware URL to check)
  • to use local ropository URL
    • type # software-packages --url https://web.domain.com/VCSA_update/

Product patches can be downloaded from this VMware site:
https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/patch#search


Log files to review for updates:
/var/log/vmware/applmgmt/software-packages.log



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