In my home lab I run ESXi 5.5 on a HP DL380. I recently upgraded from ESXi 5.5 free to ESXi 6.0. Below are the steps I used in the upgrade process. The upgrade process is actually very simple. STEP 1. Download and install VMware Software Manager STEP 2. After completing the install of VMware Software Manager, select the following options in the VMware Software Manager do download the ESXi 6.0 upgrade.
After completing the download of the ESXi 6 packages the offline bundle should be located in the following folder: c:\depot\content\dig_ESXI600\VMware-ESXi-6.0.0.0-2494585-depot.zip
STEP 3. Upload the ESXi offline bundle (VMware-ESXi-6.0.0.0-2494585-depot.zip) to the ESXi 5.5 host
STEP 4. Put the ESXi host into maintenance mode, all guest VMs must be shutdown on the ESXi host being upgraded.
STEP 5. SSH into the ESXi host and run the following command to install the offline bundle.
esxcli software profile update -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ISOs/VMware-ESXi-6.0.0-2494585-depot.zip -p ESXi-6.0.0-2494585-standard
Output from the upgrade… You will be required to restart the ESXi host.
Update Result
Message: The update completed successfully, but the system needs to be rebooted for the changes to be effective.
Reboot Required: true
VIBs Installed: VMWARE_bootbank_mtip32xx-native_3.8.5-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-amd_0.3.10-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-atiixp_0.4.6-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-cmd64x_0.2.5-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-hpt3x2n_0.3.4-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-pdc2027x_1.0-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-serverworks_0.4.3-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-sil680_0.4.8-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-via_0.3.3-2vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_block-cciss_3.6.14-10vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_cpu-microcode_6.0.0-0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ehci-ehci-hcd_1.0-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_elxnet_10.2.309.6v-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_emulex-esx-elxnetcli_10.2.309.6v-0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_esx-dvfilter-generic-fastpath_6.0.0-0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_esx-tboot_6.0.0-0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_esx-xserver_6.0.0-0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ima-qla4xxx_2.02.18-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-devintf_39.1-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-msghandler_39.1-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-si-drv_39.1-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_lpfc_10.2.309.8-2vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_lsi-mr3_6.605.08.00-6vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_lsi-msgpt3_06.255.12.00-7vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_lsu-hp-hpsa-plugin_1.0.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_lsu-lsi-lsi-mr3-plugin_1.0.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_lsu-lsi-lsi-msgpt3-plugin_1.0.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_lsu-lsi-megaraid-sas-plugin_1.0.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_lsu-lsi-mpt2sas-plugin_1.0.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_lsu-lsi-mptsas-plugin_1.0.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_misc-cnic-register_1.78.75.v60.7-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_misc-drivers_6.0.0-0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-bnx2_2.2.4f.v60.10-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-bnx2x_1.78.80.v60.12-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-cnic_1.78.76.v60.13-2vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-e1000_8.0.3.1-5vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-e1000e_2.5.4-6vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-enic_2.1.2.38-2vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-forcedeth_0.61-2vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-igb_5.0.5.1.1-5vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-ixgbe_3.7.13.7.14iov-20vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-mlx4-core_1.9.7.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-mlx4-en_1.9.7.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-nx-nic_5.0.621-5vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-tg3_3.131d.v60.4-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_net-vmxnet3_1.1.3.0-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_nmlx4-core_3.0.0.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_nmlx4-en_3.0.0.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_nmlx4-rdma_3.0.0.0-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_nvme_1.0e.0.35-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_ohci-usb-ohci_1.0-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_qlnativefc_2.0.12.0-5vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_rste_2.0.2.0088-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-ahci_3.0-21vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-ata-piix_2.12-10vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-nv_3.5-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-promise_2.12-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-sil24_1.1-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-sil_2.3-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-svw_2.3-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aacraid_1.1.5.1-9vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-adp94xx_1.0.8.12-6vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aic79xx_3.1-5vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-bnx2fc_1.78.78.v60.8-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-bnx2i_2.78.76.v60.8-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-fnic_1.5.0.45-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-hpsa_6.0.0.44-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-ips_7.12.05-4vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-mbox_2.20.5.1-6vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-sas_6.603.55.00-2vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid2_2.00.4-9vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mpt2sas_19.00.00.00-1vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptsas_4.23.01.00-9vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptspi_4.23.01.00-9vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_scsi-qla4xxx_5.01.03.2-7vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_uhci-usb-uhci_1.0-3vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_bootbank_xhci-xhci_1.0-2vmw.600.0.0.2494585, VMware_locker_tools-light_6.0.0-0.0.2494585
VIBs Removed: VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-amd_0.3.10-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-atiixp_0.4.6-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-cmd64x_0.2.5-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-hpt3x2n_0.3.4-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-pdc2027x_1.0-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-serverworks_0.4.3-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-sil680_0.4.8-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-via_0.3.3-2vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_block-cciss_3.6.14-10vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ehci-ehci-hcd_1.0-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_elxnet_10.0.100.0v-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.39.2143827, VMware_bootbank_esx-dvfilter-generic-fastpath_5.5.0-0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_esx-tboot_5.5.0-2.33.2068190, VMware_bootbank_esx-xlibs_5.5.0-0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_esx-xserver_5.5.0-0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ima-qla4xxx_2.01.31-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-devintf_39.1-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-msghandler_39.1-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-si-drv_39.1-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_lpfc_10.0.100.1-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_lsi-mr3_0.255.03.01-2vmw.550.1.16.1746018, VMware_bootbank_lsi-msgpt3_00.255.03.03-1vmw.550.1.15.1623387, VMware_bootbank_misc-cnic-register_1.72.1.v50.1i-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_misc-drivers_5.5.0-2.39.2143827, VMware_bootbank_mtip32xx-native_3.3.4-1vmw.550.1.15.1623387, VMware_bootbank_net-be2net_4.6.100.0v-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-bnx2_2.2.3d.v55.2-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-bnx2x_1.72.56.v55.2-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-cnic_1.72.52.v55.1-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-e1000_8.0.3.1-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-e1000e_1.1.2-4vmw.550.1.15.1623387, VMware_bootbank_net-enic_1.4.2.15a-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-forcedeth_0.61-2vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-igb_5.0.5.1.1-1vmw.550.1.15.1623387, VMware_bootbank_net-ixgbe_3.7.13.7.14iov-11vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-mlx4-core_1.9.7.0-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-mlx4-en_1.9.7.0-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-nx-nic_5.0.621-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_net-tg3_3.123c.v55.5-1vmw.550.2.33.2068190, VMware_bootbank_net-vmxnet3_1.1.3.0-3vmw.550.2.39.2143827, VMware_bootbank_ohci-usb-ohci_1.0-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_qlnativefc_1.0.12.0-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_rste_2.0.2.0088-4vmw.550.1.15.1623387, VMware_bootbank_sata-ahci_3.0-21vmw.550.2.39.2143827, VMware_bootbank_sata-ata-piix_2.12-10vmw.550.2.33.2068190, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-nv_3.5-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-promise_2.12-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-sil24_1.1-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-sil_2.3-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-svw_2.3-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aacraid_1.1.5.1-9vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-adp94xx_1.0.8.12-6vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aic79xx_3.1-5vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-bnx2fc_1.72.53.v55.1-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-bnx2i_2.72.11.v55.4-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-fnic_1.5.0.4-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-hpsa_5.5.0-44vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-ips_7.12.05-4vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-lpfc820_8.2.3.1-129vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-mbox_2.20.5.1-6vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-sas_5.34-9vmw.550.2.33.2068190, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid2_2.00.4-9vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mpt2sas_14.00.00.00-3vmw.550.1.15.1623387, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptsas_4.23.01.00-9vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptspi_4.23.01.00-9vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-qla2xxx_902.k1.1-9vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_scsi-qla4xxx_5.01.03.2-6vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_uhci-usb-uhci_1.0-3vmw.550.0.0.1331820, VMware_locker_tools-light_5.5.0-2.39.2143827
VIBs Skipped:
/vmfs #
STEP 6. After updating ESXi to version 6, you will be required to update the vsphere client
While installing the Vsphere 6 client I received the following error on my windows 7 workstation.
I followed the suggestion here: https://communities.vmware.com/thread/453296 to set the TMP and TEMP variables to C:\TEMP. However, i still encountered the error above. Only after I logged in as another user on the computer was I able to get the installer to complete successfully. Then you must reinstall your ESXi free license key.
References: http://www.v-front.de/2015/03/vsphere-6-is-ga-ultimate-guide-to.html