If you skipped the first release of vCenter 6 and deployed Update 1, a new version of vCenter was released for Update 1 with some security fixes among other things.  Many people are opting for the appliance version of vCenter for the first time, and patching it isn’t like the Windows version, so I wanted to document my experience with how to install updates for the vSphere 6 vCenter Server Appliance.

First off, friendly reminder, RTFM with this kind of thing.  I’m screwing around in my lab, so I didn’t as I began and immediately ran into issues, as you’ll see, but it was my fault.

Step 1:  Check interoperability with all vSphere components, third party products, and note upgrade paths.

If you are using any products that interact with vCenter from VMware such as Horizon View, vCenter Operations Manager, Site Recovery Manager, or third party products such as backup products (Veeam, etc.), management products (VMTurbo), etc., ensure you are using versions that are supported with the new version of vCenter you are about to upgrade to, and if not, ensure you map out the proper order and new versions you need to install in order to preserve functionality for all your products and services.  Don’t forget to check support on your external database if you use one, too.

I’m assuming you’ve taken care of all this already.

Step 2: Download all your relevant files you’ll need.

At a minimum, you’ll need to download the patch file from VMware.  This is NOT the full install version of the appliance!  You need to go to:

https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/patch

Filter for patches for vCenter, the major version of vCenter, and download the applicable patch file for your deployed version of the appliance.

I didn’t RTFM, so I downloaded the VCSA full installable file ISO, and got greeted with the following:

Command> software-packages stage –iso –acceptEulas
[2016-01-09T19:31:01.009] : Staging software update packages from ISO
[2016-01-09T19:31:01.009] : ISO unmounted successfully
[2016-01-09T19:31:01.009] : CD drives do not have valid patch iso.
[2016-01-09T19:31:01.009] : Staging process failed.

Get the patch file!

If you use the Appliance Management Interface to do this, you can have it automatically download the correct file for you.  The upgrade ISO files aren’t the smallest files, so I would encourage you to download it and have it ready.  If you’re curious, the patch file I downloaded for this was 1.5GBs.  You don’t want to eat up your planned downtime by waiting for an ISO.

Step 3:  Ensure a backout plan if it fails.  Take whole VM backups of all relevant vCenter VMs – Platform Services Controller and vCenter.  Take a VM snapshot as well for faster rollback.

The remaining steps are repeated for external PSCs and vCenter servers.  Just ensure you update all external PSCs before you update vCenter server nodes.  Don’t forget to test PSC functionality prior to continuing with the vCenter servers.

Step 4: Mount the patch ISO file into the VM if you are doing this via command line, or which to use a manually downloaded ISO instead of having vCenter download it for you.

Straightforward step here.  If you don’t know how to do this, you probably should stop now. 🙂

Step 5: Initiate the upgrade command

Command line method

Enable SSH on the appliance via the VCSA DCUI, and putty into the VM, and run the following:

software-packages install –iso –acceptEulas

(That’s double hyphens.)

You can seed the install files as well if you like, but I personally don’t see much advantage in doing this.

GUI

Using a web browser, log in to the vCenter Server Appliance Management Interface.  (Port 5480 using https), ensure the repository is configured properly (probably “Use default option”) if you want vCenter to download the patch ISO for you, initiate a check for patches.  Select URL if you want vCenter to download the patch for you, or select Check CDROM if you downloaded the ISO already and mounted it.  Finally, click Install Updates.

Step 6: Monitor the install progress and follow the instructions.

Monitor the installation, and ensure that it succeeds.  It’s completed when you are back to the Command> prompt if you’re using the command line.  You should also see:

Packages upgraded successfully, Reboot is required to complete the installation.

Reboot the VCSA VM if you are instructed to do so using:

shutdown reboot -r “vCenter 6.0 Update <whatever version you’re installing”

If you’re updating with the GUI, you should see a Reboot option under Summary.

If you have errors, review the /var/log/vmware/applmgmt/software-packages.log file.

Step 6: Dismount the ISO

Again, simple stuff.

Step 7 – Verify functionality of vCenter and integrated products

Step 8 – Clear out VM snapshot

Obviously, do not do this until you’re sure you don’t need to rollback.  With that said, do NOT keep the snapshot indefinitely either, as it will degrade vCenter performance, use up additional space on your datastore, and increases the chance of data corruption the longer you wait.

And there you have it!