Installing drivers or Update using vCLI

At time where you need to install update or install drivers on ESXi/ESX servers where new devices like Network cards or HBA drivers are not embedded in the base image.

In vSphere 5 you can of cause recompile your own image.  However for existing servers, we would need to learn the commands.

Here I have attached the screen shots with steps to do the installation using the VMware vCLI.

Requirements: VMware vSphere CLI installed on your workstation which can be found here under
VMware vSphere 4.0 CLI
VMware vSphere 4.1 CLI
VMware vSphere 5 CLI

Open VMware vSphere  CLI Command Prompt on workstation.

 Check the current Maintenance Mode of the ESXi server by using:

vicfg-hostops.pl –operation info –-server   –-username

e.g. vicfg-hostops.pl –operation info –-server 192.168.1.1 –-username root 

Enter password when prompted.

Put ESXi server into maintenance mode by using:

vicfg-hostops.pl –operation enter -–server [server_name_or_ip] --username [user_id]

e.g. vicfg-hostops.pl –operation enter –-server 192.168.1.1 –-username root

Enter password when prompted. 

 

Check the current Maintenance Mode of the ESXi server by using:

vicfg-hostops.pl –operation info -–server [server_name_or_ip] --username [user_id]
 

e.g. vicfg-hostops.pl –operation info –-server 192.168.1.1 –-username root 

Enter password when prompted.

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Install the driver or patch by using:
vihostupdate.pl –b -I -–server [server_name_or_ip] --username [user_id]

e.g. vihostupdate.pl –b c:\INT-intel-lad-ddk-igb-3.0.18-offline_bundle-396986.zip -I -–server 192.168.1.1 --username root

Enter password when prompted. 

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Exit ESXi server from maintenance mode by using:
vicfg-hostops.pl –operation exit -–server [server_name_or_ip] --username [user_id]

e.g. vicfg-hostops.pl –operation exit -–server 192.168.1.1 –username root 

Enter password when prompted.

Check the current Maintenance Mode of the ESXi server by using:

vicfg-hostops.pl –operation info -–server [server_name_or_ip] --username [user_id]

e.g. vicfg-hostops.pl –operation info -–server 192.168.1.1 –-username root

Enter password when prompted. 

Restart the server to take effect using:

vicfg.hostops.pl –operation reboot –force -–server [server_name_or_ip] --username [user_id]

e.g. vicfg.hostops.pl –operation reboot –force –-server 192.168.1.1 --username root 

Enter password when promoted.  

 Note: Notice --force was used as the server is no longer in maintenance mode.  If server is in maintenance mode, --force can be excluded.  It is recommended to reboot a server in maintenance mode to prevent DRS moving in VMs.