The good thing in ESXi 5.5 is the upgrade process can be done via SSH terminal. This eliminates the CD-ROM burning process and carries out the entire upgrade remotely from my laptop. As mentioned before, it's not always the direct process for version upgrade in ESXi infrastructure.
I was looking for the HP custom version of offline bundle (namely "HPE Custom Image for VMware ESXi 6.0 U2 Offline Bundle") for the HP machines which supposedly gathered all the drivers it needs for installing ESXi onto HP machines. You may need to download different custom version or official offline bundle for other machines which are supported otherwise.
URL:
https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI60U2-HPE&productId=491
After uploading the zip file onto ESXi box's datastore via vSphere client, with the following command I just got this error message on my ESXi console:
~ #
~ # esxcli software vib update -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/VMware-ESXi-6.0.0-2494585-depot.zip
[DependencyError]
VIB VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.34.3620759 requires vsan >= 6.0.0-2.34, but the requirement cannot be satisfied within the ImageProfile.
VIB VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.34.3620759 requires vsan << 6.0.0-2.35, but the requirement cannot be satisfied within the ImageProfile.
Please refer to the log file for more details.
~ #
~ #
Honestly, ESXi 5.5 doesn't quite like the new VIB module named vsan. In other words, it doesn't have vsan in the current profile. That's why the path for vid update failed. So, let's go through the upgrade process with profile update option.
To list the current profile name, use the following command:
~ # esxcli software sources profile list -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/VMware-ESXi-6.0.0-2494585-depot.zip
Name Vendor Acceptance Level
----------------------------------- -------------------------- ----------------
HPE-ESXi-6.0.0-Update2-600.9.5.0.48 Hewlett Packard Enterprise PartnerSupported
This may give different result on every single ESXi box, so you may need to take note of your own box for the actual name of image profile. Here, we have a profile name called "HPE-ESXi-6.0.0-Update2-600.9.5.0.48".
Now, it's time to proceed the upgrade:
~ #
~ # esxcli software profile update -p HPE-ESXi-6.0.0-Update2-600.9.5.0.48 -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/VMware-ESXi-6.0.0-2494585-depot.zip
.
.
And then I got the followings:
Update Result
Message: The update completed successfully, but the system needs to be rebooted for the changes to be effective.
Reboot Required: true
VIBs Installed: BRCM_bootbank_net-tg3_3.137l.v60.1-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, EMU_bootbank_elxnet_10.7.110.13-1OEM.600.0.0.2768847, EMU_bootbank_ima-be2iscsi_10.7.110.10-1OEM.600.0.0.2159203, EMU_bootbank_lpfc_10.7.110.4-1OEM.600.0.0.2768847, EMU_bootbank_scsi-be2iscsi_10.7.110.10-1OEM.600.0.0.2159203, HPE_bootbank_amsHelper_600.10.4.0-22.2494585, HPE_bootbank_conrep_6.0.0.01-01.00.7.2494585, HPE_bootbank_hpbootcfg_6.0.0.02-02.00.6.2494585, HPE_bootbank_hpe-build_600.9.5.0.48-2494585, HPE_bootbank_hpe-esxi-fc-enablement_600.2.5.20-2494585, HPE_bootbank_hpe-ilo_600.10.0.0.26-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, HPE_bootbank_hpe-smx-provider_600.03.10.00.13-2768847, HPE_bootbank_hponcfg_6.0.0.04-00.14.4.2494585, HPE_bootbank_hpssacli_2.40.13.0-6.0.0.1854445, HPE_bootbank_hptestevent_6.0.0.01-01.00.5.2494585, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_char-hpcru_6.0.6.14-1OEM.600.0.0.2159203, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hpnmi_600.2.3.14-2159203, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_scsi-hpdsa_5.5.0.48-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_scsi-hpsa_6.0.0.116-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, Intel_bootbank_intelcim-provider_0.5-1.6, Intel_bootbank_net-i40e_1.3.45-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Intel_bootbank_net-igb_5.3.1-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Intel_bootbank_net-ixgbe_4.1.1.1-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, MEL_bootbank_nmlx4-core_3.1.0.0-1OEM.600.0.0.2348722, MEL_bootbank_nmlx4-en_3.1.0.0-1OEM.600.0.0.2348722, MEL_bootbank_nmst_4.0.2.1-1OEM.600.0.0.2295424, QLogic_bootbank_misc-cnic-register_1.712.70.v60.1-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, QLogic_bootbank_net-bnx2_2.2.5k.v60.1-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, QLogic_bootbank_net-bnx2x_2.712.70.v60.3-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, QLogic_bootbank_net-cnic_2.712.70.v60.3-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, QLogic_bootbank_net-nx-nic_6.0.643-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, QLogic_bootbank_net-qlcnic_6.1.191-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, QLogic_bootbank_qlnativefc_2.1.30.0-1OEM.600.0.0.2768847, QLogic_bootbank_scsi-bnx2fc_1.712.70.v60.5-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, QLogic_bootbank_scsi-bnx2i_2.712.70.v60.2-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, VMWARE_bootbank_mtip32xx-native_3.8.5-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-amd_0.3.10-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-atiixp_0.4.6-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-cmd64x_0.2.5-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-hpt3x2n_0.3.4-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-pdc2027x_1.0-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-serverworks_0.4.3-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-sil680_0.4.8-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-via_0.3.3-2vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_block-cciss_3.6.14-10vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_cpu-microcode_6.0.0-0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ehci-ehci-hcd_1.0-3vmw.600.2.34.3620759, VMware_bootbank_emulex-esx-elxnetcli_10.2.309.6v-0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.34.3620759, VMware_bootbank_esx-dvfilter-generic-fastpath_6.0.0-0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_esx-tboot_6.0.0-2.34.3620759, VMware_bootbank_esx-ui_1.0.0-3617585, VMware_bootbank_esx-xserver_6.0.0-0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-devintf_39.1-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-msghandler_39.1-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-si-drv_39.1-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_lsi-mr3_6.605.08.00-7vmw.600.1.17.3029758, VMware_bootbank_lsi-msgpt3_06.255.12.00-8vmw.600.1.17.3029758, VMware_bootbank_lsu-hp-hpsa-plugin_1.0.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_lsu-lsi-lsi-mr3-plugin_1.0.0-2vmw.600.0.11.2809209, VMware_bootbank_lsu-lsi-lsi-msgpt3-plugin_1.0.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_lsu-lsi-megaraid-sas-plugin_1.0.0-2vmw.600.0.11.2809209, VMware_bootbank_lsu-lsi-mpt2sas-plugin_1.0.0-4vmw.600.1.17.3029758, VMware_bootbank_lsu-lsi-mptsas-plugin_1.0.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_misc-drivers_6.0.0-2.34.3620759, VMware_bootbank_net-e1000_8.0.3.1-5vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-enic_2.1.2.38-2vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-forcedeth_0.61-2vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-vmxnet3_1.1.3.0-3vmw.600.2.34.3620759, VMware_bootbank_nmlx4-rdma_3.0.0.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_nvme_1.2.0.27-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ohci-usb-ohci_1.0-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_rste_2.0.2.0088-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-ahci_3.0-22vmw.600.2.34.3620759, VMware_bootbank_sata-ata-piix_2.12-10vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-nv_3.5-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-promise_2.12-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-sil24_1.1-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-sil_2.3-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-svw_2.3-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aacraid_1.1.5.1-9vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-adp94xx_1.0.8.12-6vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aic79xx_3.1-5vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-fnic_1.5.0.45-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-ips_7.12.05-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-mbox_2.20.5.1-6vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-sas_6.603.55.00-2vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid2_2.00.4-9vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptsas_4.23.01.00-9vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptspi_4.23.01.00-9vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_uhci-usb-uhci_1.0-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_vsan_6.0.0-2.34.3563498, VMware_bootbank_vsanhealth_6.0.0-3000000.3.0.2.34.3544323, VMware_bootbank_xhci-xhci_1.0-3vmw.600.2.34.3620759, VMware_locker_tools-light_6.0.0-2.34.3620759
VIBs Removed: Broadcom_bootbank_net-tg3_3.137l.v55.1-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Emulex_bootbank_elxnet_10.5.121.7-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Emulex_bootbank_ima-be2iscsi_10.5.65.7-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Emulex_bootbank_lpfc_10.5.39.0-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Emulex_bootbank_scsi-be2iscsi_10.5.65.7-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_char-hpcru_5.5.6.6-1OEM.550.0.0.1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_char-hpilo_550.9.0.2.3-1OEM.550.0.0.1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hp-ams_550.10.3.0-15.1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hp-build_550.9.4.26-1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hp-conrep_5.5.0.1-0.0.8.1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hp-esxi-fc-enablement_550.2.4.6-1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hp-smx-provider_550.03.09.00.15-1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hpbootcfg_5.5.0.02-01.00.5.1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hpnmi_550.2.3.5-1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hponcfg_5.5.0.4.4-0.3.1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hpssacli_2.30.6.0-5.5.0.1198611, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_hptestevent_5.5.0.01-00.01.4.1198610, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_scsi-hpdsa_5.5.0.46-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_scsi-hpsa_5.5.0.114-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Intel_bootbank_intelcim-provider_0.5-1.4, Intel_bootbank_net-i40e_1.2.48-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Intel_bootbank_net-igb_5.2.10-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Intel_bootbank_net-ixgbe_3.21.4.3-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_misc-cnic-register_1.712.50.v55.1-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_net-bnx2_2.2.5j.v55.3-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_net-bnx2x_2.712.50.v55.6-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_net-cnic_2.712.50.v55.6-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_net-nx-nic_5.5.643-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_net-qlcnic_5.5.190-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_qlnativefc_1.1.55.0-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_scsi-bnx2fc_1.712.50.v55.7-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_scsi-bnx2i_2.712.50.v55.4-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-amd_0.3.10-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-atiixp_0.4.6-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-cmd64x_0.2.5-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-hpt3x2n_0.3.4-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-pdc2027x_1.0-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-serverworks_0.4.3-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-sil680_0.4.8-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-via_0.3.3-2vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_block-cciss_3.6.14-10vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ehci-ehci-hcd_1.0-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.71.3116895, VMware_bootbank_esx-dvfilter-generic-fastpath_5.5.0-0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_esx-tboot_5.5.0-2.33.2068190, VMware_bootbank_esx-ui_0.0.2-0.1.3357452, VMware_bootbank_esx-xlibs_5.5.0-0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_esx-xserver_5.5.0-0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-devintf_39.1-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-msghandler_39.1-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-si-drv_39.1-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_lsi-mr3_0.255.03.01-2vmw.550.3.68.3029944, VMware_bootbank_lsi-msgpt3_00.255.03.03-1vmw.550.1.15.1623387, VMware_bootbank_misc-drivers_5.5.0-3.68.3029944, VMware_bootbank_mtip32xx-native_3.3.4-1vmw.550.1.15.1623387, VMware_bootbank_net-be2net_4.6.100.0v-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-e1000_8.0.3.1-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-enic_1.4.2.15a-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-forcedeth_0.61-2vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-vmxnet3_1.1.3.0-3vmw.550.2.39.2143827, VMware_bootbank_ohci-usb-ohci_1.0-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_rste_2.0.2.0088-4vmw.550.1.15.1623387, VMware_bootbank_sata-ahci_3.0-22vmw.550.3.68.3029944, VMware_bootbank_sata-ata-piix_2.12-10vmw.550.2.33.2068190, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-nv_3.5-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-promise_2.12-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-sil24_1.1-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-sil_2.3-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-svw_2.3-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aacraid_1.1.5.1-9vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-adp94xx_1.0.8.12-6vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aic79xx_3.1-5vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-fnic_1.5.0.4-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-ips_7.12.05-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-mbox_2.20.5.1-6vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-sas_5.34-9vmw.550.3.68.3029944, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid2_2.00.4-9vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptsas_4.23.01.00-9vmw.550.3.68.3029944, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptspi_4.23.01.00-9vmw.550.3.68.3029944, VMware_bootbank_uhci-usb-uhci_1.0-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_xhci-xhci_1.0-2vmw.550.3.68.3029944, VMware_locker_tools-light_5.5.0-3.68.3029944
VIBs Skipped: Avago_bootbank_scsi-mpt2sas_15.10.06.00-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, Hewlett-Packard_bootbank_scsi-hpvsa_5.5.0.100-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_scsi-bfa_3.2.5.0-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820, QLogic_bootbank_scsi-qla4xxx_644.6.05.0-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ima-qla4xxx_2.02.18-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-e1000e_3.2.2.1-1vmw.600.1.26.3380124, VMware_bootbank_net-mlx4-core_1.9.7.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-mlx4-en_1.9.7.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585
Such a long passage reporting how things are done. It's successful anyway. You need to reboot the ESXi box to make changes effective.
NB: You may need to use boot option like "noIOMMU" during the reboot process.
To enable noIOMMU option via SSH, try this command:
> esxcli system settings kernel set –setting=noIOMMU -v TRUE