How to install patches or updates for your VMware ESX host using update manager

How to install patches or updates for your VMware ESX host using update manager

1. Download patches and upgrades
Begin by logging onto the vSphere client. From the vSphere client home screen click on the “Update Manager” icon.

From the Update Manager Administration window select the “Admin View” tab.

Select the “Getting Started” tab. and Click on Download patches and upgrades.
Make sure the vSphere server has access to internet to download the required patches and updates from VMware repository.

2. Create a Baseline Group.
To create baselines go to the Update Manager home screen select the “Baselines and Groups” tab, from the “Baseline” section on the left click the "Create" link:

Enter Baseline Group name

Click next

Click next
Select Baselines for this group.

Select the required options and click next
1. Critical Host Patches (Predefined)
Checks ESX/ESXi hosts for compliance with all critical patches
2. Non-Critical Host Patches (Predefined)
Checks ESX/ESXi hosts for compliance with all optional patches.

Click next

Click Finish

How to boot a VM into Safe Mode in ESXi

1) Right Click the VM
2) Select Edit Settings
a. Click Options
b. Select Boot Options
c. Set the Power-on Boot Delay to 5000ms (5 seconds)
d. Now the VM will display the BIOS VMWare bios screen for 5 seconds, giving you enough time to click the VM and press F8
3) Open the console window for the VM. Start the boot process.
4) Click the console with the mouse to gain focus.
5) Wait until the VMWare boot screen appears.

6) Before the counter reaches 0:00 press the F8 key and don't let up until the Windows Advanced Options Menu appears which will allow selecting the Safe Mode or other options.