vSphere 5.x Notes & Tips - Part XX: vSphere Update Manager:

Hi All ...
In the twentieth part of our series, we'll go through vSphere Update Manager. This supplementary component is so similar to Windows WSUS; a component inside your virtual infrastructure which is responsible for updating any ESXi host, VM or virtual appliance in your environment.

Credits:

• Jase McCarty

Now, Let's Start...

1. Update Manager Port List:

The following table summarize all ports required for Update Manager components:

2. Upgrading ESXi Hosts using Update Manager 5.x:

It’s not supported to update from ESX 3.x to ESXi 5.x directly using Update Manager. Alternatively, either install a fresh installation of ESXi 5.x or upgrade first to ESX 4.x, then use Update Manager to upgrade to ESXi 5.x.

Steps: 1-) Configure Update Manager and the cluster settings.

2-) Import an ESXi image with the required version & drivers in .iso format.

3-) Create a new upgrade baseline.

4-) Attach the required container (cluster, folder or datacenter) to the newly created baseline.

5-) Scan the container.

6-) Review scan results.

7-) Remediate the container.

3. Update Manager Download Service (UMDS):

This service is used when UM server isn’t connected to internet, instead another web server is connected to internet and used to download updates for UM server. The following step-by-step guide written by Jase McCarty describes clearly how to install it with Web server based on Windows 2k8R2:

http://www.jasemccarty.com/blog/?page_id=5

4. Update Manager PowerCLI:

To enable UM VMware PowerCLI commands:

1-) Install VMware PowerCLI on a machine and set Power Shell Execution Policy to Remote Signed.

2-) Connect to vCenter Server.

3-) Run the following command: Get-Command -PSSnapin -VUMAutomation.

5. Update Manager Basic Troubleshooting:

1-) UM service can’t be installed on a Domain controller. The following KB article from VMware describes it clearly:

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1029408

2-) Check database connectivity and functionality.

3-) Check Internet connectivity with UM server or UMDS server.

4-) Check availability of free space (> 10mb) on vSphere hosts while updating, as updates and patches are staged first on ESXi host local disk before being installed (/tmp directory).

5-) Check for conflicting updates and patches before updating hosts.

6-) Changing default download location (Patch Repository) for UM Server to another local location is described in this step-by-step guide by VMware:

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1004152

  7-) Check all required Firewall ports are opened, like: http Client (80,443) & VMware UM (80).

Share the knowledge ....

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