How to update your ESXi 6.0 host the easy way

Posted by Paul Braren on Jun 10 2015 (updated on Jul 21 2015) in
  • ESXi
  • Virtualization
  • HowTo

    • Great news, this article has already been written by Vladan Seget, it's good to go as-is!

    How do I know? Because I tested it, updating to ESXi 6.0.0 build 2715440, and recorded each and every step of the process in the short video below.

    JUL 21 2015 Update - I've now tested updating to ESXi 6.0.0 build 2809209, and have updated the article below.

    So if you only have a single ESXi 6.0 host to patch, especially to handle the CBT bug explained here, you'll see this can all be done without installing and configuring VMware Update Manager.

    Vladan's excellent article

    Detailed step-by-step TinkerTry walk through

    right-after-esxi-6-manual-patch
    Sample screenshot, right after successful patch, just before the reboot

    In this video, you'll see these 4 basic steps (on an earlier build, but the procedure is the same):

    1. Enter ESXi Maintenance mode

    2. Download ESXi600-201507001.zip, upload to ESXi using Datastore Browser

    3. use PuTTY to SSH in and type this install command:

    esxcli software vib install -d /vmfs/volumes/SSD3-256GB/patch-directory/ESXi600-201507001.zip
    substituting the SSD3-256GB part with the full path to your .zip file. Tab/type-ahead is your friend!

    1. reboot

    2. verify the new build that's seen as the system reboots. After boot, an alternative is to use the vSphere Web Client, select the host, select Summary, then select the Configuration pane.

    Before the upgrade, using the March 12 initial release of vSphere 6.0 it shows:
    VMware ESXi, 6.0.0, 2494585
    After this patch and the reboot, it should show:
    VMware ESXi, 6.0.0, 2809209

    See also

    Summaries and Symptoms

    This patch updates the esx-base VIB to resolve an issue where after you upgrade to or install VMware ESXi 6.0.x, the following operations might fail or not work as expected on a Change Block Tracking (CBT) enabled virtual machine due to excessive CBT heap exhaustion:

    •Virtual machine backup

    •Virtual machine Power on

    •Expanding the size of the virtual disk

    •Taking virtual machine quiesced snapshots

    JUN 15 2015 Update

    Thanks to Thomas's comment below, who mentions Andreas Peetz excellent alternative approach that is even easier (requires outbound access to the internet from the ESXi server):

    JUL 11 2015 Update

    right-after-esxi-6-manual-patch-201507001

    VMware ESXi 6.0.0b | 07 JULY 2015 | ISO Build 2809209 ESXi600-201507001.zip
    A new patch is here, and the procedure works exactly the same as outlined above, well, other than the filename

    1. Enter ESXi Maintenance mode

    2. Download ESXi600-201507001.zip, upload to ESXi using Datastore Browser

    3. use PuTTY to SSH in and type this install command:

    esxcli software vib install -d /vmfs/volumes/b_SSD3-OCZ-256-2.5/ESXi600-201507001.zip
    substituting the "b_SSD3-OCZ-256-2.5" part with the full path to your .zip file. Tab/type-ahead is your friend!

    See also at TinkerTry

    VCP logo TinkerTry - PCs, EVs, home tech, efficiency and more, including virtualization. My opinions here. IT Professional offering part-time consulting.

    vExpert logo Paul Braren, MCSE in 1998, VCP #2681 in 2005, vExpert 2014 to 2025, Veeam Vanguard Emeritus, 2015 to 2019.

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    Update ESXi Hypervisor

    Necessity to sunset SuperServer Bundles

    SuperServers These systems still work great for many even 9+ years later, mine included, even with (unsupported) vSphere 8 and Windows 11 Version 21H2. But unless you added the optional TPM module, it may be the end of the line as far as repurposing them for running the latest Windows 11 Version 24H2 and beyond.

    After 6 successful years testing then shipping well over 1,000 Xeon D Bundles, Wiredzone had to stop SuperServer bundles in mid-2021 due to cost, supply, and logistics challenges. Bare bones system sales continued for years longer.

    What's next in 2025? I don't yet have my answer for my home lab, especially now that VCF certification is required to keep non-production home lab licenses going, even as a vExpert and VMUG Advantage EVALExperience customer.

    As for a SuperServer follow-on, the Xeon D-1700/2700 (Ice Lake D) was a minor refresh for 2023, with Xeon D-1800/2800 (Granite Rapids D) refresh slightly better in 2024, and hopefully Xeon 6 (Granite Rapids-D) much better in 2025 featuring PCIe Gen5, MCRDIMMs, and 100GbE networking, wow! Feb. 27 2025 update update looks promising, but pricey. Infortunately, it's become clear to me that Supermicro is less focuses on the mini-tower form factor these days.

    As for the CPU industry, it's unfortunate that Pat Gelsinger was apparently ousted from Intel's helm in these challenging times, but I'm also grateful to have had the honor of working at VMware when he was the CIO there. I'll leave it at that, given the whole Broadcom thing.