ESX Baseline Dec 08

Summary of updates

All outstanding major DELL firmware and ESX patches as of December 2008...

1. DELL Firmware Updates
   • PERC v5.2.2-0072
   • BMC v2.37
   • BIOS v2.5.0
   • NIC FW v4.4.2
   • DRAC v1.4
2. ESX software v3.5 update 3
3. ESX software patches included in "RTS ESX baseline (Dec 08)"
   • ESX350-200811401-SG Updates VMkernel, hostd, and Other RPMs
   • ESX350-200811406-SG Security Update to bzip2
   • ESX350-200811402-SG Updates ESX Scripts
   • ESX350-200811405-SG Security Update to libxml2
   • ESX350-200811409-BG Updates Kernel Source and VMNIX
   • ESX350-200811408-BG Updates QLogic Software Driver

Full upgrade procedure

Useful Unix commands, not specifically required, but may be of use - General Unix

PROCEDURE NOT COMPLETED YET

Prep for updates

1. Ensure that ESX already has ESX350-200808202-UG Update to ESX Scripts applied, otherwise UpdateManager will apply every update it can find (rather than just what is in the baseline)
2. Put ESX into Maintenance Mode
   • If a stand-alone ESX, all VM's will need to be shutdown
   • If a cluster ESX, all VM's should be VMotion'ed to alternative ESX's

Apply DELL firmware updates

1. Putty onto ESX, login as simons
2. Sudo as root
   • su -
3. Move into home directory
   • cd /home/simons
4. Make updates executable
   • chmod +x *.BIN
5. Apply updates using following commands in order indicated. Do not boot until completion of last update.
   • 1950 Only
     1. ./RAID_FRMW_LX_R189337.BIN
     2. ./BMC_FRMW_LX_R202156.BIN
     3. ./NETW_FRMW_LX_R197246.BIN
     4. ./PE1950_BIOS_LX_2.5.0.BIN
     5. ./RAC_FRMW_LX_R197962.BIN
   • 2950 Only
     1. ./RAID_FRMW_LX_R189337.BIN
     2. ./BMC_FRMW_LX_R202152.BIN
     3. ./NETW_FRMW_LX_R197246.BIN
     4. ./PE2950_BIOS_LX_2.5.0.BIN
     5. ./RAC_FRMW_LX_R197962.BIN

Apply ESX patches

1. Run up Virtual Infrastructure client and ensure you've the right version installed...
   • Help | About... Client should be v2.5.0 build 84767
     • If not, browse to uklonvcp1 and install new version
2. Ensure you've got the Update Manager plug-in installed and enabled
   • Plugins | Manage Plugins.., Available tab: Update Manager should be installed
   • Installed tab, Update Manager should be enabled
3. Highlight the ESX, righ-click and select Scan for updates
4. Once the scan has completed go to the Update Manager tab
5. Right-click over the "RTS ESX baseline (8 Dec 08)" baseline and select Remediate
   • VC will scan the ESX's, then push out all applicable update, then reboot the ESX

Tidy Up

1. Show disk usage (note for later comparison)
   • df -h
2. Delete files...
   • rm -f *.BIN
3. Show disk usage (should have reduced from earlier check)
   • df -h

Final checks

1. Ensure all applicable software is started on VM's
2. Ensure no alarms on Netcool for affected VM's or ESX's