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esxupdate - VMware ESX Server software
maintenance tool
ESXUPDATE
esxupdate - VMware ESX Server software maintenance tool
SYNOPSIS
esxupdate -r repository-URL [OPTIONS] update
esxupdate [-l] query
esxupdate [-l] info update-name
esxupdate [-l] -r repository-URL info
COPYRIGHT
VMware ESX Server is Copyright 2006 VMware, Inc. All rights
reserved.
DESCRIPTION
esxupdate is a software update program which can be used for
maintaining VMware ESX Server hosts. It is capable of installing
software updates, enforcing software update policies, and
tracking installed software. Esxupdate runs on the ESX Service
Console. It can only be run by user root.
There are two modes of operation - the update command for
installing software updates, and the query and info commands
for detailing what is installed and the contents of each software
update, including ones not yet installed. Invoking esxupdate
with no arguments causes a brief help screen to be printed.
Installation is non-interactive, and if the software update
calls for a reboot, then it will be initiated after a successful
installation. The --noreboot option may be used to disable
reboots.
Software updates may be patches for addressing critical security
issues or urgent bug fixes, or they may be general updates
or maintenance releases. They may be located on the local
file system or on an NFS, FTP, or HTTP server. Each one consists
of a descriptor file along with a set of packages. The descriptor
controls the installation process and requirements, including
the need to have VMs powered off, or the need for a reboot.
Installing software updates
The installation process consists of:
* Checking for prerequisites (correct ESX version, VMs powered
off, etc.)
* Updating to a newer version of esxupdate, if available
* Downloading RPMs from the update repository
* Installing RPM packages
* Boot configuration
A successful installation means that every package in the
software update was installed, and the boot configuration
and initrd updated as necessary.
Installation options:
-r, --repo repository-URL
Update from the repository located at repository-URL. This
is a required option. file:, http:, ftp: are the supported
URL types..
-x, --exclude package
Do not install the rpm named package. This is commonly used
to preserve the version of a package due to be upgraded, or
to work around dependency problems. This option may be repeated.
-n, --noreboot
Install packge and suppress the reboot
-v, --verbose loglevel
Sets the verbosity of standard output. The default is 20,
but it can be changed to 10 to include debug output, or raised
to 30 to silence output except for warnings and 40 for errors
only.
Query and Info
Describing the installed system state
The query comand lists all the installed software updates
on the system, in order of installation time. If an update
obsoletes an earlier update, then only the later one will
be displayed. The last CD installation is also displayed,
usually as the first line. The first column lists the software
update name, which can be used with the info command to obtain
a detailed listing of each update and the packages installed
with it.
-l, --listrpms
Estimate the packages that have been installed, removed, or
upgraded outside of using esxupdate. Very useful for determining
custom software configurations.
Describing each software update
The info command lists the update version, description, build
and install date, and dependency details for a software update.
Pass the installed update name (as returned by query) after
info.
-r, --repo repository-URL
List information for the update located at the URL, instead
of an installed update.
-l, --listrpms
Lists either the packages in the software update (when -r
is used), or the packages actually installed.
EXAMPLES
To print a description of the update located at /zebra16/pub/patches/1001-0033:
esxupdate -r file:/zebra16/pub/patches/1001-0033 info
To install the same update, but skip the openssh package:
esxupdate -r file:/zebra16/pub/patches/1001-0033 -x openssh
update
Now, review what we have installed:
esxupdate query
List in detail what we just installed:
esxupdate -l info 1001-0033
FILES
/etc/vmware/patchdb
The patch database directory.
/var/log/vmware/esxupdate.log
Log file with verbose output. To see a summary of the installation
history, 'grep summary' on this file.
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