What is vSphere Update Manager and how does it upgrade ESXi 6.7 to 7.0?

VUM works by using baselines. A baseline is a defined set of patches or an upgrade image attached to a host or cluster. The system scans hosts for compliance, identifies non-compliant components, and remediates them to align with the selected baseline.

To upgrade ESXi from 6.7 to 7.0 using Update Manager, administrators typically:

1. Verify compatibility between hardware, vCenter, ESXi versions, and third-party tools. 2. Upgrade vCenter to a compatible version if necessary. 3. Import the ESXi 7.0 ISO image into Update Manager. 4. Create a new upgrade baseline using the imported ISO. 5. Attach the baseline to the target host or cluster. 6. Run a compliance check. 7. Place hosts into maintenance mode and remediate.

During remediation, ESXi hosts enter maintenance mode, apply the upgrade, and reboot automatically. Virtual machines must be powered off or migrated before the process begins.

Update Manager simplifies lifecycle operations by reducing manual steps, improving consistency, and minimizing upgrade risks across environments.

Q1: Is Update Manager installed separately?

It is integrated with vCenter Server and may require manual installation in older versions.

Q2: Can multiple hosts be upgraded at once?

Yes, clusters can be updated centrally using baselines.

Q3: Do hosts reboot during the upgrade?

Yes, hosts enter maintenance mode and reboot after remediation.

Q4: Should backups be performed before upgrading?

Yes, backing up VMs and host configurations is strongly recommended before upgrades.