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How to Upgrade ESXi 6.0 to 6.5 via ISO

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One of the methods of upgrading VMware ESXi 6.0 to 6.5 is via ISO (or CD-Rom). Most of you probably don't use much CD-ROMs and CDs, but servers, especially in small client's environments usually don't have KVM, iPMI, ILO, Drac… so one of the options is still to upgrade via CD-ROM. I also recorded a short video from the process, which is really simple. You don't need to go to the CLI and you only need a clean ESXi 6.5 ISO image. It is one of the supported ways to upgrade VMware ESXi 6.x.

To upgrade via ISO or CD-ROM You don't have to remember any CLI commands, and you don't need to setup anything except just to burn a single CD-ROM. Your VMFS local data stores and all other configurations are preserved when you upgrade. You could also use an iPMI and attach the ISO via the remote access (will do that post too), but as being said, not all servers has this options for free (for example Supermicro does, Fujitsu does not…).

Update: This post meant to be an information about standalone (non-managed) ESXi systems. If you're running vCenter server in your environment, you have to upgrade your vCenter to 6.5 first. Obvious for some, but not for others… You can check my new lab post where I'm upgrading/migrating my vCenter 6.0U2 (Windows) to VCSA 6.5.

Update2: And if you ask me what's first to check? Device drivers like Network cards, storage adapters etc etc…. There is a follow-up post on how I updated a Firmware and driver on my X710-DA2 10GbE NICs … Check the post here. And also a post where you'll learn How to create a custom ESXi 6.5 ISO with VMware Image Builder GUI.

Option to prepare a USB stick and upgrade by booting from USB is also interesting – check this How to create a USB media with ESXi 6.5 Installation. We will explore other ways to upgrade (via CLI, via Network, via USB) in one of our future posts too, but today we'll stick to something really simple.

Note that VMware has made the download available and released ESXi 6.5 just yesterday. I also recorded a short video from the process, which is really simple. You don't need to go to the CLI and you only need a clean ESXi 6.5 ISO image.

How to Upgrade ESXi 6.0 to 6.5 easily – the steps:

Step 0: Make sure that you have visited VMware HCL and checked that your hardware (pNICs, storage controllers etc…) are on the list for the 6.5 release. Check the Firmware and Drivers combination for ESXi 6.5…  You may want to check my detailed post where I was checking for my NICs. It's not always obvious, but better check before the upgrade…..

Step 1: Download the ESXi 6.5 Iso image from VMware. Download vSphere 6.5 at VMware

Step 2: Boot your host from the ISO image (Change the Boot order in your BIOS, if necessary, so you can boot from CD-ROM).

How to Upgrade ESXi 6.0 to 6.5 Easily

Step 3: Follow the instructions on the screen. Keep the defaults when at the upgrade screen. After the upgrade completes, just reboot the host.

You'll find everything in place. Your network settings, VMFS datastores, your root password…..

Hopefully, this short video will make things easier. Enjoy.

Check other posts from ESX Virtualization:

You can check all posts about vSphere 6.5 on my vSphere 6.5 dedicated WordPress page.

VMware vSphere 6.5:

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About Vladan SEGET

This website is maintained by Vladan SEGET. Vladan is as an Independent consultant, professional blogger, vExpert x16, Veeam Vanguard x9, VCAP-DCA/DCD, ESX Virtualization site has started as a simple bookmarking site, but quickly found a large following of readers and subscribers.

Connect on: Facebook. Feel free to network via Twitter @vladan.

Comments

    • Vladan SEGET says

      Yes, sure. vCenter first, but this post was targetted for folks using standalone ESXi rather than the one coupled with vCenter. Usually there are the “rogue” once within each organizations… -:)
      Thanks Christoph for your comment.

  3. tom says

    Thank you, I was double-checking.
    They do change the disk configurations and things sometimes.
    I’ll double-double-check again next year with VMware before I actually do the upgrade.
    Thank you, Tom

    • Vladan SEGET says

      I’m not Mac user. Just Hackintosh….. Try to look through VMware communities if MAC users experiencing any troubles. Otherwise VMware Fusion and nested ESXi 6.5 might be the only way for now…

      • pcrandom says

        Thanks anyway. Will keep an eye out on those other methods you mentioned you’ll be covering (CLI, network, USB), so maybe I could try it.

        (I did try nesting an ESXi 6.5 instance in ESXi 6.0 running on my MacBook Pro yesterday, and it failed. Can’t remember the error. Maybe my hardware’s too old.)

  5. Sadiq says

    I made the mistake of upgrading ESXI 6.0 to 6.5 without upgrading the VCSA first, now I am unable to login using web/client. Is there anything I can do to fix this without having to format/reinstall everything?

  11. William Reed says

    I have a questions, I run a Vcenter host 6.0 on it’s own hardware and add my esxi hosts to it. TO migrate to 6.5 I need to do the VCSA and run it as a VM? I cannot install the appliance on the box in place of my version of Windows? If so do I need to go to this windows appliance, install esxi on it then run the installer to put the appliance on that version of ESXi? How do I then manage this esxi? I am confused because I don’t want to put the appliance on any of the hosts that I want to manage with vcenter. Anyway let me know how I do this if I have a blade server that was set aside for vcenter and vcenter only….

    • Vladan SEGET says

      Yes, VCSA is an appliance and can run as a VM only. But, running VCSA on host which is itself, managed by this VCSA is supported scenario.

      You can of course separate things, and use your blade to install ESXi 6.5 and then deploy VCSA 6.5 on it, and then only migrated your Windows based vCenter.

  12. Anton says

    Hi. Ive installed esxi 6.0 on an usb stick ( meaning the server will start from that stick) and upgrading it now seems a little bit more complex, that just running the iso.
    DOu you have any input on how to update the USB installet version too ?

    • Vladan SEGET says

      Anton. The ESXi booting up and running from USB? You can still update the installation via ISO (CD-ROM). The process is the same. Once You boot from the CD/IDO, it detects the underlying installation (whether it is on local disk, USB… does not matter). It provides you with an option to UPGRADE.

      Thanks for your comment.

  13. Julien says

    Thank you for your great post Vladan.
    always following your articles.
    I managed to update two single host everything went fine.
    the last host I am trying to update it does not comes back with the depot, and no error out.
    [root@ESXI6:~] esxcli network firewall ruleset set -e true -r httpClient
    [root@ESXI6:~]
    [root@ESXI6:~] esxcli software sources profile list -d https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/main/vmw-depot-index.xml | grep -i ESXi-6
    [root@ESXI6:~]
    [root@ESXI6:~] esxcli software sources profile list -d https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/main/vmw-depot-index.xml | grep -i ESXi-6.5

    any suggestions why ?
    I can ping 8.8.8.8 and http://www.google.com everything seems to works.
    can you please advise ?

    • Hemanth Kumar says

      Hello Eugen,
      Have you followed the same steps/procedure. Since i want to upgrade my ESXi from 5.5 to 6.5.

  17. Abdelnaser says

    Dear SEGET,

    Thanks for your great work, I hope you can do some infrastructure work like configure Zoning on external SAN Switch and server profiling for HP virtual connect as you know most enterprises have this scenarios and on top of then vitalization comes to work .

    Best Regards

    • Vladan SEGET says

      You got it all wrong. I’m Vladan.

      As concerning your topic suggestion, thank you. I’m open for guest posting if you want.
      Kind regards,
      Vladan

  18. Abdelnaser says

    Dear Vladan,

    Thank you for correcting me,I hope my topic’s suggestions will be added value to your great work on your site and every one will benefits from it.

    Best regards.

  19. Sergey Glinchevskiy says

    Hello, I need your help. I have 12 esx i- 5.0, 5.1,5.5,6.0 – may i update all off them to 6.5 U1 with latest patch “update-from-esxi 6.5-6.5update01”

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