UCS C240-M3S - ESXi upgrade from 6.0u3 to 6.5uX

[Jagadish2]

Hi,

We need guidance on step by step up gradation process for ESXi 6.0 to 6.5.

1) Required steps on how to perform ESXi 6.0 to 6.5 through cli.

2) Required guidance on firmware and drivers installation as we cannot connect through KVM Console becos of the flash player issue.

3) Post upgrade of the ESXi from 6.0 to 6.5 how to connect to the Host, as vshpere client is not supported on ESXi6.5.

Please suggest or guide in details.

Regards

Jagadish

[Nithin Eluvathingal]

I use mozila Firefox  3 and old Java version when I  work on  old  CIMC version's.  it  always worked for me.

For a recent project I used windows 7 machine  with below application to access CIMC version 2.3.

Mozilla 3

Flash Player v9.0.246 or higher

Java 6u38

https://firefox-3.en.softonic.com

Java File/Flash player file  may by tomorrow  I can share it. You can also try to download it from Google.

post upgrade your can access it through web.

https:// server_ip_address_or_fqdn /ui

[Shalid Kurunnan Chalil · Accepted solution]

Hi There, 

1) - I am not sure whether it works for 6 to 6.5 but I used the below steps multiple time to install patches and upgrade from 6.5 to 6.7 

• Download the Cisco OEM offline bundle for 6.5 
• Upload in to the one of the datastore (for ex: I uploaded into the root directory of datastore1-
  /vmfs/volumes/547bed3a-35fc4da8-1be1-1c6a7ac10470 # )
• Enable the SSH access to the host 
• SSH to the ESXi 
• Navigate to the folder where you have copied the zip file of 6.5 (  /vmfs/volumes # cd datastore1

/vmfs/volumes/547bed3a-35fc4da8-1be1-1c6a7ac10470 #

• Get the profile name (syntax is esxcli software sources profile list --depot= "filename with the path"
  esxcli software sources profile list --depot="/vmfs/volumes/datastore1/VMware-ESXi-6.5.0-9298722-Custom-Cisco-6.5.2.2-Bundle.zip"
• This will give you the profile name, note down this profile name and use it in below command 
    esxcli software profile update --depot= "filename with the path" --profile=<profilename>

esxcli software profile update --depot="/vmfs/volumes/datastore1/VMware_ESXi_6.7.0_14320388_Custom_Cisco_6.7.3.1_Bundle.zip" --profile=VMware-ESXi-6.7.0-14320388-Custom-Cisco-6.7.3.1

Note: you may get  steps in detail from google if you search for CLI method to upgrade the ESXi from 6 to 6.5 
2) Please try the following to get the KVM console - https://<CIMC_IP>/kvm.jnlp?cimcAddr=<CIMC_IP>&tkn1=<CIMC_username>&tkn2=<CIMC_Password> 

3) Browse the IP address in any browser. 

Regards, 

[Jagadish2]

Hi,

Can you please help me in providing the url to the ESXi 6.5 u3 image.

Am bit confused and not able to identify the correct image.

Regards

Jagadish

[Nithin Eluvathingal · Accepted solution]

https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/downloads/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI65U3-CISCO&productId=614

You can also check With your MCE portal.

[Nithin Eluvathingal]

If you are looking for upgrading through Cli a large number of videos and documents available over internet regarding this. 

Have a look on below links. 

https://www.vladan.fr/how-to-upgrade-esxi-6-0-to-6-5-via-cli-on-line/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fe0JLac5VM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBKpWUiBWOo

[Jagadish2]

Hi,

How to perform the driver installation, if i get a chance to launch the KVM console.

Any guide or steps..

Thanks.

[Nithin Eluvathingal]

If you can access the CIMC,

• Activate Virtual Device
• MAP  ISO image
• Press F6 change boot to CIMC DVD
• proceed with the upgrade.

I assume the below link could be useful.

http://www.virtubytes.com/2018/12/26/upgrade-vmware-esxi-cimc-html5/