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How to patch VMware vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) from Offline Depot ZIP file

By Vladan SEGET | Last Updated: February 19, 2017

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Today we’ll show you how to patch vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) from Offline Depot. As you might notice, a new version of VCSA 6.5a has been released, as well as ESXi 6.5a, supporting VMware NSX 6.3. The VCSA 6.5 become more attractive when it comes built-in features. We have detailed the deployment and setup, built-in HA protection test or a migration from Windows based vCenter.

So VMware is giving a clear signal – VCSA is the way moving forward. Especially when now owning the whole stack with Photon OS. Previously the VCSA was using Suse Linux Enterprise Server. So there will be more admins migrating their vCenters to the new VCSA 6.5 (Photon OS based) appliance during the months to come. Not to forget that we now have built-in vSphere Update Manager (VUM) which enables us to patch ESXi hosts and VMs.

Let’s get back to our post where we’ll learn How to patch VMware vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) from Offline Depot. What we’ll actually do is that we will setup a temporary web server on a separate machine. This web server will serve the patches to our VCSA 6.5 appliance, so we will not import/copy anything inside of the appliance and the web server is portable so we do not have to install permanently on our management workstation if we do not want to.

How to patch VMware vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) from Offline Depot – The steps.

Step 0: Download the vCenter Server Appliance patch ZIP file from the VMware Web site at https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/downloads. The latest file (during the time of writing is called VMware-vCenter-Server-Appliance-6.5.0.5200-4944578-updaterepo.zip).

Step 1: At first I tried with one portable web server and it did not work. I could not mount the repository. The error message was saying “The repository URL does not contain packagess belonging to this product”.

After a quick question on Twitter, Ralf pointed me to HFS which just works.

@vladan @VMware @emad_younis I used HFS as websrv adding the unpacked vc_update_repo folder. Auth: none.

— Ralf (@ralfthiel) February 6, 2017

So I had to start again and go and download HFS first.

Step 2: Then extract the update zip file for VCSA 6.5 which you have downloaded from VMware. The file’s name, as mentioned higher, is VMware-vCenter-Server-Appliance-6.5.0.5200-4944578-updaterepo.zip.

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Extract the zipped bundle into the repository directory. The extracted files are in two subdirectories:

  • manifest
  • package-pool

How to patch VCSA 6.5 via Offline Depot new

You should see all the rpm files in the package-pool folder there.

Start the web server and add the folder where you extracted the VMware repo ZIP file. Add this folder to the root directory.

HFS Web Server for patching VCSA 6.5

Use real folder

HFS Web Server for patching VCSA 6.5 real folder

Step 3: Then go and connect to the vCenter Server Appliance Management Interface (VAMI) of your VCSA 6.5. It should be via the 5480 port, the connection should look like this:

https://ip_of_vcsa:5480

Select Update > Settings > Check the radio button Use Specified repository and replace the repository URL which is by default set to https://vapp-updates.vmware.com/vai-catalog/valm/vmw/8d167796-34d5-4899-be0a-6daade4005a3/6.5.0.5100.latest/

with the address of the web server and the sub-directory. In our example it is:

https://10.10.1.189/vcsa65patch

Like this.

VMware VCSA 6.5 Offline patching

Then validate through OK button. You should see the repo being mounted with a message “Only product updates are available”. That’s just perfect…

Patch VCSA 6.5 via update repo ZIP file

Then simply click the Install Updates button which gives you the option to install All updates.

Install all updates

The process starts the updates and after few minutes you should see the final screen with successfull message.

How to patch VCSA 6.5 via Offline depot ZIP file

Reboot the VM to complete the installation process.

After reboot you can check again against the software repo and you’ll see a message saying that the “Latest updates already installed on vCSA, nothing to stage/install. And you can check the Build number has changed.

VCSA 6.5 Latest Build

Done.

Also from ESX Virtualization

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  • vSphere 6.5 page with ALL How-to, videos and blog articles for vSphere 6.5, ESXi 6.5

Stay tuned through RSS, and social media channels (Twitter, FB, YouTube)

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| Filed Under: Server Virtualization Tagged With: How to patch VMware vCenter Server Appliance 12 Comments

About Vladan SEGET

This website is maintained by Vladan SEGET. Vladan is as an Independent consultant, professional blogger, vExpert x11, Veeam Vanguard x5, VCAP-DCA/DCD, VCP, 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

  1. Alexander Kupchinetsky says

    February 7, 2017 at 6:55 pm

    Windows IIS can be used as well but sign and json mime types should be manually added to virtual directory

    Reply
    • Vladan SEGET says

      February 7, 2017 at 7:56 pm

      Hi Alex. Thanks for the comment. Yes, possibly any web server can do, but I wanted quick solution with “no install”….

      Reply
  2. Ron R says

    May 1, 2017 at 8:19 pm

    Thank you for posting, this information is really helpful. In our case, we’re using external PSC’s not internal – how do we upgrade them? We’re currently at 6.0u2 (build 3634791) and are upgrading to 6.0u3b (build 5326079).

    Reply
    • Ron R says

      May 2, 2017 at 5:16 pm

      After posting, I was able to answer my own question…

      The external PSC’s have the same VAMI web management – https://ip_of_external_psc:5480

      Just point to the same .zip file as used to update the VCSA. Make sure to update the external PSC’s first!

      Reply
      • Vladan SEGET says

        May 3, 2017 at 7:41 am

        Hi Ron,
        Thanks for your comment. Wasn’t able, due to time constraints, reply earlier. I see that you found your way. Have a great day.

        Reply
  3. Tim says

    August 28, 2017 at 9:13 pm

    Thank you so much! I’ve been struggling with this update for a couple of days, and the install is finally in progress!

    Reply
  4. inna says

    October 9, 2017 at 5:18 pm

    Vlandan, tu es formidable!

    Reply
    • Vladan SEGET says

      October 9, 2017 at 6:09 pm

      Merci, -:) Oh, btw, I’m Vladan.

      Reply
  5. kiaee says

    November 13, 2017 at 10:20 am

    Hi MR

    Thanks very much.

    Reply
  6. moose says

    March 8, 2018 at 7:52 pm

    See this about setting up IIS for this purpose:

    https://communities.vmware.com/thread/533434

    .sign = text/html

    Reply
  7. Stu says

    May 9, 2018 at 5:40 pm

    Thanks .. very helpful

    Reply
  8. Dan says

    July 25, 2018 at 12:53 am

    Thanks – worked perfectly!

    Reply

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