In this tutorial, I guide you through upgrading VMware ESXi 6.5 to ESXi 6.7.My lab contains 2 x ESXi 6.5 Update 2 hosts. The first host I will be upgrading v.

There a several ways to patch a VMware ESXi server. vSphere Update Manager (VUM) can update for example a complete ESXi host cluster fully automatic. vSphere Update Manager requires a vCenter Server. When you don’t have a vCenter Server patching can be done from the command line.

Update ESXi 6.5 with Update Manager Back to vSphere Web Client, I will click on Home button, then on “Update Manager” link. Click on the name of your vCenter Server to load the Update Manager page. Click on “Manage” link. For this example, we will be patching VMware ESXi 6.5 with patch ESXi601-SG. Additional patches can be applied in the same manner. Read the release notes or security advisories before patching as other components (ie. VCenter) may need to be patched first. Name Patch Date Build; ESXi 6.5 February 2021 Patch: ESXi601: 2021-02-23: 17477841: ESXi 6.5 February 2021 Patch (Security Only) ESXi601.

Here is a quick overview of how to patch an ESXi 6.x or 7.x host to the latest patch or version (from ESXi 6 to 7 for example).

Step 1. Download the latest patch bundle from the VMware Web site, link. VMware ESXi patches are cumulative! Each patch bundle (.zip archive) includes all the updates from prior patches.

Step 2. Upload the patch bundle (zip) to a (central) datastore with the vSphere Client (prior vSphere 6.5), vSphere Web Client, ESXi host client.

Step 3. Enable SSH

In the vSphere Web client start the SSH service and make a SSH session to the ESXi host

Esxi 6.5 Patch Update

Step 4. Put the host in maintenance mode

Step 5. Install the patch bundle

Using esxcli with the install method has the possibility of overwriting existing drivers. If you are using third-party ESXi images, VMware recommends using the update method to prevent an unbootable state. The following command will install the patch bunde:

For example install HPE ESXi 6 Update 3:

After the patch bundle is installed check the message. It must say “The update completed successfully, but the system needs to be rebooted for changes to be effective.”

Esxi 6.5 Patch

Step 6. Reboot the host by entering the following command:

Step 7. Make a SSH session to the ESXi host and exit maintenance mode

Release Date: NOV 19, 2020

Build Details

Download Filename:	ESXi650-202011002.zip
Build:	17167537
Download Size:	345.2 MB
md5sum:	e484bb26b389d238a5dfeb88e71c4bcb
sha1checksum:	4dbbee48df59dcd305735d828d5f998bfc4a32c1
Host Reboot Required:	Yes
Virtual Machine Migration or Shutdown Required:	Yes

Bulletins

Bulletin ID	Category	Severity
ESXi650-202011301-SG	Security	Critical

Rollup Bulletin

This rollup bulletin contains the latest VIBs with all the fixes since the initial release of ESXi 6.5.

Bulletin ID	Category	Severity
ESXi650-202011002	Security	Critical

Image Profiles

VMware patch and update releases contain general and critical image profiles. Application of the general release image profile applies to new bug fixes.

Image Profile Name

ESXi-6.5.0-20201103001-standard

ESXi-6.5.0-20201103001-no-tools

For more information about the individual bulletins, see the Download Patches page and the Resolved Issues section.

Patch Download and Installation

The typical way to apply patches to ESXi hosts is through the VMware vSphere Update Manager. For details, see the About Installing and Administering VMware vSphere Update Manager.

ESXi hosts can be updated by manually downloading the patch ZIP file from the VMware download page and installing the VIB by using the esxcli software vib command. Look up washburn guitar serial numbers. Additionally, the system can be updated using the image profile and the esxcli software profile command.

For more information, see the vSphere Command-Line Interface Concepts and Examples and the vSphere Upgrade Guide.

Resolved Issues

The resolved issues are grouped as follows.

ESXi650-202011301-SG

Patch Category	Security
Patch Severity	Critical
Host Reboot Required	Yes
Virtual Machine Migration or Shutdown Required	Yes
Affected Hardware	N/A
Affected Software	N/A
VIBs Included	VMware_bootbank_vsanhealth_6.5.0-3.149.17127932 VMware_bootbank_vsan_6.5.0-3.149.17127931 VMware_bootbank_esx-tboot_6.5.0-3.149.17167537 VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.149.17167537
PRs Fixed	N/A
CVE numbers	CVE-2020-4004, CVE-2020-4005

This patch updates the esx-base, esx-tboot, vsan, and vsanhealth VIBs to resolve the following issues:

VMware ESXi contains a use-after-free vulnerability in the XHCI USB controller. A malicious actor with local administrative privileges on a virtual machine might exploit this issue to execute code as the virtual machine's VMX process running on the host. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the identifier CVE-2020-4004 to this issue. For more information, see VMSA-2020-0026.
VMware ESXi contains a privilege-escalation vulnerability that exists in the way certain system calls are being managed. A malicious actor with privileges within the VMX process only, might escalate their privileges on the affected system. Successful exploitation of this issue is only possible when chained with another vulnerability. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the identifier CVE-2020-4005 to this issue. For more information, see VMSA-2020-0026.

ESXi-6.5.0-20201103001-standard

Profile Name	ESXi-6.5.0-20201103001-standard
Build	For build information, see Patches Contained in this Release.
Vendor	VMware, Inc.
Release Date	November 19, 2020
Acceptance Level	PartnerSupported
Affected Hardware	N/A
Affected Software	N/A
Affected VIBs	VMware_bootbank_vsanhealth_6.5.0-3.149.17127932 VMware_bootbank_vsan_6.5.0-3.149.17127931 VMware_bootbank_esx-tboot_6.5.0-3.149.17167537