I created a document describing how to upgrade ESXi on the XC platform for a customer. It uses the Dell iDRAC specifically. If anyone has feedback on anything that was missed or could make things easier I'd appreciate it.
[list=1]
Move VMs and place host into maintenance mode[list=1]
From vCenter Web Client navigate to Hosts and Clusters
Select the host to be upgraded
Click Related Objects and Virtual Machines
Select all running VMs except CVM and migrate to another host
Once all VMs have been migrated right click the host, select Maintenance Mode and Enter Maintenance Mode
SSH to the Nutanix CVM on the host
Run the following at the prompt: cvm_shutdown -P now
Login to iDRAC of the ESXi server
Default user: root
Default pass: calvin
Click Launch in the Virtual Console Preview section
Click Run twice and accept any errors on the Java applet
Click on Virtual Media then Connect Virtual Media
Click Virtual Media again and Map CD/DVD …
Select virtual media
Click Browse on the Virtual Media box
Navigate to the ISO and select it then click Open
Change Next Boot
Click Next Boot and select Virtual CD/DVD/ISO
Click OK on the popup to accept
From the vSphere Web Client right click the host, select Power and Reboot
Select the iDRAC console to complete the installation
The system will boot to the ESXi ISO
Press the Enter key
Press F11
The device with a VMFS partition should be selected. If not select it and press Enter to continue
"Upgrade ESXi, preserve VMFS datastore" should be selected. Press Enter to continue
Press F11 to upgrade
After the upgrade process is complete press Enter to reboot the host
Wait for the host to fully boot and become available in vCenter
Right click the host and go to Maintenance Mode > Exit Maintenance Mode
Right click the Nutanix CVM on the host and Power On
Wait for the resiliency section in Prism to be OK and green before proceeding to the next host
Repeat the process until all hosts in the cluster are upgraded[/list][/list]Thanks.
Best answer by Jon
That sounds like a super dangerous way to do this.
why not just follow the manual upgrade process that we already have documented?
It would be easier, and less clicks.
It involves loading the patch media and just doing the install, and then shutting down CVM and rebooting host. Nothing to do with iDRAC.
