How to easily update your VMware vCenter Server Appliance from VCSA 6.5.x to 6.5.0e

Posted by Paul Braren on Jul 17 2017 (updated on Mar 31 2018) in
  • ESXi
  • Virtualization
  • HowTo
  • HomeLab

    • Important Update - On Mar 20 2018, VMware VMSA-2018-0004.3 announced that CVE-2017-5715 (Spectre-2) mitigation is now included in the latest patch that you should be using instead of the older patch featured in the original article below. You'll find the newer article here:

    Article below as it originally appeared.

    vCenter Server Appliance 6.5.0e | 15 JUNE 2017 | ISO Build 5705665

    See also:

    Warning:
    vCenter/VCSA 6.5 should be upgraded to 6.5.0e (aka 6.5 e) before upgrading your host(s) to ESXi 6.5.0d. There is currently no ESXi 6.5.0e version.

    There's benefits to 6.5.0e, especially if you're coming from any version prior to 6.5.0d, since this VCSA version, coupled with ESXi 6.5.0d, will enable you to enable the new and greatly improved vSAN 6.6! See also:

    Yep, upgrading via VAMI works as advertised, just like it did when going from 6.5 to 6.5.0a back in February, and to 6.5.0b in March, and to 6.5.0c and 6.5.0d in April, and finally to 6.5.0e in June. This is a very easy upgrade, as shown screen-by-screen walk through below, and in the video below.

    Prerequisite

    Preparations

    Warning:

    1. You need to do your homework before upgrading, if you're wondering why, read this.
    2. Do this VCSA 6.5.0e upgrade in a test environment first! Before attempting, you should be sure to have a full backup, such as the simple native VCSA backup button seen at top-right. You can also use a 3rd party backup solution such as NAKIVO or Veeam.
    3. At a minimum, do a snapshot (or backup) of this VCSA VM before upgrading, then make sure everything works alright after the upgrade, then remove the snapshot within a few days, to avoid performance degradation.
    easy-upgrade-to-vcsa-65

    If you're looking for how you get from 6.0.x to 6.5, that's more of a migration, and the right article for you is over here:

    Simple Upgrade from VCSA 6.5 to 6.5.0e using VAMI - Video

    VCSA upgrade to 6.5.0b using VAMI. Upgrading to 6.5.0e Build 5705665 is essentially the same.

    Comprehensive walk thru video including VCSA and ESXi upgrades

    How to easily update your VCSA 6.5 to 6.5.0d Build 5318154 and ESXi to Build 5310538. Upgrading to 6.5.0e Build 5705665 is essentially the same.

    Simple Upgrade from VCSA 6.5 to 6.5.0e using VAMI - Screenshots

    Takes about 2 to 3 minutes to upgrade, if your VCSA VM is located on an SSD based datastore, such as the Samsung 960 EVO 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD I used for my home datacenter, featured in this video.

    go-to-ip-or-name-of-your-vcsa-TinkerTry
    in your browser, go to your VCSA IP or Name:5480
    login-to-your-VCSA-TinkerTry
    login with root and your password
    click-on-Update-then-on-Check-Updates-TinkerTry
    along the left edge of DCUI, click 'Update', then click on 'Check Updates', then on 'Install Updates' and 'Install All Updates'
    click-on-I-accept-then-click-Install-TinkerTry
    click on 'I accept' checkbox, then click on 'Install'
    wait-for-your-VCSA-TinkerTry
    wait for a bit, on SSDs, a bit is less than 2 minutes
    upgraded-successfully-VCSA-TinkerTry
    wow, you're done already
    click-on-Summary-then-click-on-Reboot-TinkerTry
    at left, click on 'Summary', then at right, click on 'Reboot'
    login-to-your-VCSA-TinkerTry
    login with root and your password
    click-on-Update-then-on-Check-Updates-then-on-Check-Repository-TinkerTry
    along the left edge of DCUI, click 'Update', optionally also clicking on 'Check Updates' then 'Check Repository', with the DCUI showing you confirmation that you're already done, since you're at 6.5.0.5500 Build Number 5705665

    See also at TinkerTry

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    See also

    TinkerTry - PCs, EVs, home tech, efficiency and more, including virtualization. My opinions here, not my employer's.

    Paul Braren, MCSE in 1998, VCP #2681 in 2005, vExpert 2014 to 2024, Veeam Vanguard Emeritus, 2015 to 2019.

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    Easily update VMware ESXi at TinkerTry.com/easy-update-to-latest-esxi