How to Upgrade from VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7 to 7.0

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VMware vSphere 7, the latest release of VMware's virtualization platform, introduces a number of new useful features and many companies are looking forward to upgrading from vSphere 6.seven to 7.0. The ESXi hypervisor is one of the main vSphere components, and for a vSphere upgrade, you should perform a VMware vCenter upgrade and a VMware ESXi upgrade. Y'all won't have to perform a clean installation of ESXi 7.0 on servers running ESXi 6.5 or ESXi half-dozen.7 as you tin can direct upgrade to v7 from these 2 versions. If you're using ESXi half-dozen.0 or earlier in your vSphere surroundings, you can upgrade in several steps. For example, upgrade first to version six.5 and then to version 7.0. Otherwise, practise a clean installation of ESXi 7.0. This weblog post explains how to upgrade from ESXi 6.7 to ESXi 7.0 in your vSphere environment.

ESXi Upgrade Requirements

The hardware of a server running ESXi 6.vii must be compatible with ESXi vii.0, that is, information technology must meet the hardware requirements for ESXi seven.0. If an unsupported device is nowadays (for example, an quondam unsupported CPU or disk controller), the ESXi upgrade will not exist applied to the server. See VMware Hardware Compatibility Guide.

There must be no running VMs on an ESXi host when y'all showtime the ESXi upgrade procedure. In that location must also be enough free storage infinite for the ESXi upgrade.

If an ESXi host is managed by vCenter Server, the vCenter version must be the aforementioned or higher compared to the target version of ESXi afterward upgrade. VMware vCenter vii.0 tin manage ESXi seven.0, ESXi 6.7 and ESXi half-dozen.five, only vCenter half-dozen.7 cannot manage ESXi 7.0 hosts. Thus, you accept to upgrade vCenter first and then go to ESXi upgrade if you want to upgrade vSphere half dozen.seven to vii.0. Follow this vSphere upgrade gild, otherwise you tin can lose the connection between an ESXi host and vCenter.

If there are any VMware add-ons or plugins installed, cheque their compatibility by using the VMware Compatibility Matrix.

ESXi Upgrade Methods

This blog post covers two primary methods for a VMware ESXi upgrade:

  1. Upgrade past using ESXCLI, the command line interface. This method can be used for VMware ESXi 6.7 to 7.0 upgrade for standalone ESXi hosts and ESXi hosts managed by vCenter.
  2. Upgrade past using Lifecycle Manager. This method is applicable only for ESXi hosts managed past vCenter Server. VMware Lifecycle Manager for VMware vSphere 7.0 is a modified VMware Update Managing director that was used in vSphere six.7. This is the preferred method for upgrading ESXi hosts managed by vCenter and allows you to upgrade multiple ESXi hosts at once by using the same image.

How long does ESXi upgrade have? An ESXi upgrade takes a few minutes if there are no compatibility issues or other bug.

ESXi Upgrade by Using ESXCLI

Although ESXi upgrade by using ESXCLI is not difficult, you should nevertheless perform an ESXi backup before upgrading. This way, if annihilation goes wrong, you tin roll dorsum to a backup version. Read likewise how to back up ESXi configuration.

Enable ESXi Beat out and SSH to access the control line interface on the ESXi host. You lot can do this by using i of ii methods:

  1. In the ESXi straight console (DCUI), open up System customization and in Troubleshooting options, striking Enable ESXi Shell and Enable SSH. This configuration enables SSH and ESXi Crush permanently until you manually disable them.
  2. Enter the IP accost of your ESXi host in a web browser. Log into the VMware Host Customer by using your ESXi root credentials. In the spider web interface of the VMware Host Customer go to Manage > Services.

Starting time the services:

  • TSM
  • TSM-SSH

These services will exist enabled until ESXi reboot if you started the services in VMware Host Customer.

Enable-SSH-access-for-VMware-ESXi-upgrade-by-using-ESXCLI

Bank check the current version of ESXi in the ESXi Directly Console or ESXi Shell by using the vmware -five control or in VMware Host Client by going to Assist > About.

Checking-the-current-ESXi-version-before-upgrade

Close downwards all VMs running on the ESXi host.

ESXi upgrade by using ESXCLI is divided into two types:

  • The offline method – you have to download the offline package from the VMware website manually, upload the file to the ESXi datastore, and use this packet for the ESXi upgrade.
  • The online method – you should use VMware online repositories to download and install new packages for an ESXi profile update.

The offline method for ESXi upgrade

Download the ESXi vii offline bundle from the VMware website. The zip archive of the offline bundle is available along with the ESXi ISO installation image. In our case the proper noun of the downloaded VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) offline package file is:

VMware-ESXi-seven.0.0-15843807-depot.cipher

Downloading-the-VMware-ESXi-7-offline-bundle-from-the-VMware-website

Upload the downloaded zip file to the ESXi datastore. Yous can utilize VMware Host Customer or whatsoever SFTP client (if you want to upload a file via SSH). Let's use VMware Host Customer to upload the file.

Become to Storage > Datastores, select the datastore (datastore1 in our case), and click Datastore Browser.

Opening-the-datastore-browser-by-using-VMware-Host-Client

Select a directory to store bundle files or create a new directory in the datastore browser. We create the ESXi7-packet directory to store the VMware-ESXi-vii.0.0-15843807-depot.zip file. Click Upload to browse a goose egg package file and upload the file to the selected directory in the datastore.

The-ESXi-7-offline-installation-bundle-is-uploaded-to-the-ESXi-datastore-for-ESXi-upgrade

Brand certain that there are not any VMs in the running state on this ESXi host before starting the ESXi upgrade process.

vmware -v is the command that allows you to cheque the electric current version of ESXi running on your server in the panel.

Run the update command to upgrade ESXi 6.seven to seven.0:

esxcli software profile update -p ESXi-vii.0.0-15843807-standard -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ESXi7-bundle/VMware-ESXi-seven.0.0-15843807-depot.zip

where ESXi-7.0.0-15843807-standard is the ESXi profile name that contains the version and build number that is equal to the ESXi version and build number divers in the name of the VMware-ESXi-7.0.0-15843807-depot.zip file used for ESXi upgrade. A contour consists of VIBs and defines an ESXi paradigm. A VIB is an ESXi software package.

Wait for a while until you see the command output.

Running-the-command-to-upgrade-ESXi-6-7-to-7-by-using-the-offline-method

After successful execution of the command you can come across a listing of updated packages (VIBs – VMware installation bundles) in the panel output.

ESXi-packages-are-updated-and-server-reboot-is-required-to-complete-ESXi-upgrade

Reboot the ESXi host to stop the ESXi upgrade:

reboot

Don't forget to assign a serial number for ESXi 7.0 considering the serial number for ESXi 6.7 doesn't piece of work for ESXi vii.0. Since the vSphere 6 license is not valid, the upgraded ESXi 7.0 host starts to work in the full-featured evaluation mode for a threescore-twenty-four hour period period. Thus, you have 60 days after upgrade to enter a vSphere vii series number otherwise the functionality of ESXi 7.0 will be limited.

The online method for ESXi upgrade

When using the online method, you should configure internet admission for the ESXi host that you desire to upgrade and place the host in maintenance mode manually.

List the electric current image profile and contained packages:

esxcli software profile get

Viewing-the-current-ESXi-profile

Enter ESXi to the maintenance way:

vim-cmd /hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter

or

esxcli system maintenanceMode set --enable truthful

Let http traffic by editing settings in the built-in firewall on the ESXi host:

esxcli network firewall ruleset set up -eastward true -r httpClient

List profiles provided by VMware for ESXi 7.0 in VMware repositories:

esxcli software sources contour list -d https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/chief/vmw-depot-alphabetize.xml | grep ESXi-vii.0.0

A software depot is a collection of VIBs and image profiles that has a bureaucracy of files and directories that can be accessed via HTTPS. Companies who have large VMware vSphere environments tin can create own depots and use vSphere auto deploy to install updates on numerous ESXi hosts.

Permit'south use this profile:
ESXi-vii.0.0-15843807-standard

You tin can check which packages will exist installed earlier running the ESXi upgrade control:

esxcli software profile update -d https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/Product/primary/vmw-depot-alphabetize.xml -p ESXi-seven.0.0-15843807-standard --dry-run

Run the update procedure:

esxcli software profile update -d https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/main/vmw-depot-alphabetize.xml -p ESXi-seven.0.0-15843807-standard

Configuring-the-firewall-selecting-the-profile-and-starting-the-ESXi-upgrade-process

Wait for a few minutes until the upgrade process is finished.

Prefer using esxcli software profile update rather than esxcli software profile install to prevent overwriting existing packages, drivers, and configuration.

If you run into the error message

Got no data from process: LANG=en_US.UTF-8 /usr/lib/vmware/esxcli-software profile.update  -d "https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/primary/vmw-depot-index.xml" -p "ESXi-vii.0.0-15843807-standard",

check whether there is a persistent scratch sectionalisation. A persistent scratch partition may be absent if you run ESXi from a USB flash drive. Read the blog mail virtually running ESXi from the USB flash bulldoze to acquire more about ESXi partitions.

If everything is correct, reboot the ESXi host for the changes to take effect.

reboot

Get out the maintenance mode with the command:

vim-cmd /hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter

or

esxcli system maintenanceMode gear up --enable false

ESXi Host Upgrade in vCenter

Open VMware vSphere Client in your spider web browser to access vCenter.

There are two ESXi half-dozen.7 hosts in this case and these hosts are managed by vCenter. Shut downwardly virtual machines on ESXi hosts that must be upgraded or migrate those VMs to other ESXi hosts. You tin practice upgrading ESXi hosts in virtual environment by running ESXi hosts and vCenter as virtual machines.

Let'southward upgrade the ESXi host with IP address is 192.168.11.27. Select the needed ESXi host and cheque the current hypervisor version. As you can encounter on the screenshot below, the current version of our ESXi host before upgrade is 6.7.0 build 10302608. If yous want to upgrade multiple ESXi hosts, you can select a cluster or a datacenter.

Checking-the-current-ESXi-version-in-VMware-vSphere-Client-before-starting-ESXi-upgrade

Open Lifecycle Director. You can exercise it by using multiple methods.

  1. Click Home and in the left pane (navigation pane) click Lifecycle Manager.
  2. Click Menu in the meridian of the vSphere Client window, and hitting Lifecycle Manager.

Once you have opened VMware Lifecycle Manager in vSphere Client, select the Imported ISOs tab and click Import ISO.

Importing-the-ESXi-7-installation-ISO-image-for-performing-VMware-ESXi-upgrade

Hitting Browse and select the ESXi 7 installation ISO epitome file. You tin can download the ESXi installation image from the VMware website after registration (a VMware business relationship is required).

Browsing-the-installation-ISO-image-for-ESXi-6-7-to-7-upgrade

Once you have selected the ISO file, the importing process starts. In this example, we use the VMware-VMvisor-Installer-7.0.0-15843807.x86_64.iso file.

The-ESXi-7-installation-ISO-image-is-uploading-to-the-repository-of-Lifecycle-Manager

After importing the ISO file, you can see that the ESXi 7.0 installation image in the Imported ISOs tab.

Click New baseline to create a new baseline.

Creating-a-new-baseline-after-importing-the-ISO-image

Proper noun and Description. Enter the baseline proper noun and description, for case, ESXi7-0 and ESXi 7.0 baseline.

Entering-a-name-and-description-for-a-new-baseline

Select ISO. Select the ESXi vii ISO image you take uploaded earlier (VMware-VMvisor-Installer-vii.0.0-15843807.x86_64.iso).

Selecting-the-ESXi-7-installation-ISO-image-for-a-new-baseline

Summary. Review your selections before finishing creating a baseline.

Checking-the-summary-for-a-new-baseline-creation

A baseline is now created.

Become back to the Hosts and clusters screen, select the ESXi host that must be updated (192.168.11.27 in our instance), and in the top right corner of the interface click the Updates tab.

Selecting-the-Updates-tab-after-selecting-the-ESXi-host-that-must-be-upgraded

When a baseline is created, yous have to attach that baseline to ESXi hosts you want to update. As yous remember, we are going to update a single ESXi host in this walkthrough.

Striking Baselines, scroll downwardly and find the Attached Baselines section, and then click Attach and in the menu that opens, click Attach Baseline or Baseline Group.

Attaching-a-baseline-or-baseline-group-to-the-selected-ESXi-host-for-configuring-VMware-ESXi-upgrade

Select the ESXi7-0 baseline you have created earlier and click Attach. If at that place are any other baselines attached, remove those baselines past selecting them and clicking Detach.

VMware-upgrade_selecting-the-baseline-to-attach

Now you have to check compliance. This step is needed to cheque whether the ESXi host has already the update installed. If you lot see the non-compliant status, information technology means that the update is not installed on your ESXi host. Click Check Compliance.

Checking-compliance-before-performing-ESXi-upgrade

Every bit you can see on the adjacent screenshot, the ESXi status later checking is non-compliant and it ways that you can install the needed update and upgrade ESXi 6.7 to ESXi 7.0.

The-non-compliant-status-notifies-you-that-updates-have-not-been-installed-on-an-ESXi-host-yet

Pre-cheque remediation checks for any compliance bug that may occur later installing updates and the ESXi upgrade.

Running-pre-check-remediation-to-check-for-any-compliance-issues-that-may-occur-after-VMware-ESXi-upgrade

As you tin can see on the screenshot below, there are no issues later running remediation pre-check. Hit Washed and go to upgrade the ESXi host.

VMware-upgrade_no-issues-found-after-remediation-pre-check

In the Attached Baselines department select your ESXi7-0 baseline created earlier and click Remediate to showtime the ESXi 6.vii to 7.0 upgrade process.

Clicking-Remediate-to-start-the-upgrade-process-of-ESXi-6-7-ESXi-7

A pop-upwardly screen appears. Read the Finish User License Agreement (EULA) and select the I accept the terms and license agreement checkbox. Hitting OK to continue.

The-end-user-license-agreement-must-be-accepted-to-perform-upgrade-to-ESXi-7

Make certain that your ESXi host is selected and striking Remediate to upgrade ESXi 6.vii to 7.0. Don't forget that virtual machines must be powered off or migrated from the ESXi host that is being upgraded.

Remediating-the-selected-ESXi-6-7-host-for-upgrade-to-the-version-7

Y'all can encounter the ESXi upgrade progress in the Contempo task toolbar that tin can exist expanded in the bottom of the VMware vSphere Client interface. The ESXi host is automatically entered into the maintenance way to install the upgrade.

The-ESXi-host-is-entered-the-maintenance-mode-and-the-upgrade-process-is-started

When the ESXi upgrade process is finished, the maintenance mode is turned off for the host and the upgraded ESXi host is set up to piece of work. You tin select the ESXi host in the Hosts and Clusters view and check the version after ESXi upgrade. Every bit you lot can see on the screenshot below, the version of ESXi is now ESXi 7.0.0, 15843807.

The-ESXi-host-has-been-upgraded-to-the-version-7-successfully

If you see that a license is expired afterwards an ESXi 6.7 to 7.0 upgrade on the upgraded host, you should utilize a vSphere vii.0 license.

If you need to upgrade an ESXi host on which a vCenter VM (virtual appliance) is running you can utilise one of the approaches:

  • Migrate a vCenter VM to another ESXi host and upgrade the source ESXi host.
  • Shut down a vCenter VM and other VMs running on the ESXi host and upgrade ESXi past using ESXCLI equally explained in the showtime part of this weblog mail. Notice, that SSH access must be enabled and the lockdown fashion must be disabled (you must be able to manage an ESXi host directly without vCenter).

Notation: If any of explained ESXi upgrade methods are not suitable for y'all, yous can write the ESXi ISO installation image to a DVD disk or USB flash bulldoze, boot from that medium, run the ESXi seven.0 installer, and select the disk where ESXi 6.7 is installed as the destination disk. The upgrade is performed in the interactive way in this case. Another more circuitous ESXi upgrade method is a scripted upgrade by using a traditional boot medium like DVD and flash drive or the preboot execution environment (PXE) to run the installer. The scripted method allows you to apply predefined settings for upgrading multiple ESXi hosts.

What is VM compatibility upgrade? VM compatibility upgrade is the upgrade of VM hardware version. A VM hardware version defines which emulated devices (virtual hardware) are used by a virtual motorcar running on a VMware hypervisor.

Should you upgrade VMware hardware version? It is recommended to upgrade the hardware version of virtual machines afterward an ESXi upgrade and to update VMware Tools.

Conclusion

Afterward the release of vSphere 7, many VMware customers desire to upgrade from vSphere 6.7 to seven.0. VMware ESXi upgrade is a part of VMware vSphere upgrade. This blog post has covered ESXi 6.7 to 7.0 upgrade by using multiple methods. VMware ESXi upgrade in ESXCLI, which is a command line interface, is the universal method that can be used to upgrade standalone ESXi hosts and ESXi hosts managed by vCenter if it is not restricted by vCenter configuration. If you use vCenter to manage a high number of ESXi hosts, consider ESXi upgrade by using VMware Lifecycle Manager that is component of vCenter 7.0 and is a successor of VMware Update Managing director. It is recommended to perform ESXi backup before going to VMware ESXi upgrade. Don't forget to back up your VMware VMs on a regular ground to protect your data. NAKIVO Backup & Replication can perform VMware backup, including for vSphere vii, and provide comprehensive information protection for your environment.

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