How to Upgrade the Vi Agent Software on an ESX Host
This article is written for VMWare Infrastructure Version 3.0.1 and higher. With every update to the Virtualcenter Software (Vi Client) an administrator should also upgrade the Agent software on each ESX host to make sure all functionality in an HA cluster is still available and to avoid problems with different versions between the management server (VirtualCenter) and the cluster node. This is especially necessary for the HA (high availability) functionality when a host fails and the cluster is trying to restart the affected VMs (Virtual Machines).
The updated agent file is on the VC server in the following location:
\\<<YourServerName>>\c$\Program Files\VMware\VMware VirtualCenter 2.0\upgrade
Copy the latest upgrade file (example file: vpx-upgrade-esx-6-linux-40644) to your ESX hosts (Example Location: /var/updates) using WinSCP or any other tool that allows secure copy. Move all the VMs currently hosted on the server you are upgrading to other hosts in your VM farm.
Then SSH into the ESX host and switch to the root user. Change the root login location to /var/updates or whereever you saved the updated agent file.
#root: cd /var/updates
Run the following command (replace the version number on the file accordingly for future releases)
sh vpx-upgrade-esx-6-linux-40644
The next step should be considered MANDATORY: reboot the host server after the agent upgrade.
If no reboot occurs the VC (Vi Client) will lose connectivity to the host. This could be fixed by right clicking onto the host and “disconnect” and then “connect” again afterwards. BUT – it seems like the VC Agent does need a restart or reboot to fully function again.
Mandatory II: After the reboot right click on the host and select “Reconfigure for HA” to make it fully integrates into the cluster again after the new agent software is up and running again.
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