Updating ESX Host via command line

Posted on 15/03/2011 by admin

First off put the host into maintenance mode

Upload the the updates you are wanting to apply to the host, in my case I have created an Update folder in the local datastore.

Open Putty and connect to the host, login with root username and password.

At the prompt enter cd /vmfs/volumes/local storagename/Update press enter

At the prompt enter esxupdate update –bundle nameofupdate.zip press enter

This will then cycle through applying the update follow the step above to apply any other updates that you need.

At prompt enter reboot press enter

Once the ESX has rebooted, exit it out of maintenance mode check that the updtaes have been applied and delete the Zip files from the local datastore as they are no longer required.

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Enabling SSH root access on ESX

Posted on 20/01/2010 by Grant

Access the local ESX host server console and login with your root username and password.

from the command prompt type cd /etc/ssh and press enter

Type vi sshd_config and press enter

scroll down to the line “PermitRootLogin no” press the insert key and change this to “PermitRootLogin yes” then press the escape key.

Type :wq and press enter

This should save the file and return you to the root prompt.

Type service sshd restart

This will now allow you to connect to this ESX host with putty.

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Adding host entries to ESX servers

Posted on 19/01/2010 by Grant

First off from the esx console press ALT + F1 or logon to the host with Putty.

Login with root and your root password

cd /etc

vi hosts

Press the insert key

Add the addresses of your ESX hosts as per example: 

10.0.0.1 ESX01.domain.local ESX01
10.0.0.2 ESX02.domain.local ESX02

Once you have finished adding the addresses press escape

type :wq and press enter

This should return you back to the root prompt and you can check that it worked by typing ping and the name of one of your other esx hosts that you have just added to the hosts file.

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