1. Use vSphere Client to connect to your ESXi host (or vCenter server)

2. Browse a VMFS datastore (e.g. the local ESXi VMFS datastore if it has one)

3. Upload your VMware ESXi update/patch (.zip file) to the VMFS datastore

4. Put your host in maintenance mode (VMs will need to be powered off or vMotioned to other hosts if in a cluster)

5. SSH to the ESXi server and login as "root".

Note: You may need to start the SSH service (under Configuration --> Security Profile)

6. Install the update with esxcli:

esxcli software vib install --depot=/vmfs/volumes/50bf1ff8-dd8a5bd5-5fc0-00145edc9454/ESXi500-201207001.zip

7. Reboot the ESXi server

reboot

8. Exit maintenance mode

9. Power on and/or vMotion the VMs back (if DRS is not enabled).

10. Job done!

~ # ls /vmfs/volumes/50ab7d53-c6c64e41-01a5-001a64239fda

ESXi500-201207001.zip

~ # esxcli software vib list

Name                  Version                             Vendor  Acceptance Level  Install Date --------------------  ----------------------------------  ------  ----------------  ------------ ata-pata-amd          0.3.10-3vmw.500.0.0.469512          VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 ata-pata-atiixp       0.4.6-3vmw.500.0.0.469512           VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 ata-pata-cmd64x       0.2.5-3vmw.500.0.0.469512           VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 ata-pata-hpt3x2n      0.3.4-3vmw.500.0.0.469512           VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 ata-pata-pdc2027x     1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512             VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 ata-pata-serverworks  0.4.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512           VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 ata-pata-sil680       0.4.8-3vmw.500.0.0.469512           VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 ata-pata-via          0.3.3-2vmw.500.0.0.469512           VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 block-cciss           3.6.14-10vmw.500.0.0.469512         VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 ehci-ehci-hcd         1.0-3vmw.500.1.11.623860            VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 esx-base              5.0.0-1.11.623860                   VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 esx-tboot             5.0.0-0.0.469512                    VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 ima-qla4xxx           2.01.07-1vmw.500.0.0.469512         VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 ipmi-ipmi-devintf     39.1-4vmw.500.0.0.469512            VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 ipmi-ipmi-msghandler  39.1-4vmw.500.0.0.469512            VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 ipmi-ipmi-si-drv      39.1-4vmw.500.0.0.469512            VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 misc-cnic-register    1.1-1vmw.500.0.0.469512             VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 misc-drivers          5.0.0-1.11.623860                   VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 net-be2net            4.0.88.0-1vmw.500.0.7.515841        VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 net-bnx2              2.0.15g.v50.11-5vmw.500.0.0.469512  VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 net-bnx2x             1.61.15.v50.1-1vmw.500.0.0.469512   VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 net-cnic              1.10.2j.v50.7-2vmw.500.0.0.469512   VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 net-e1000             8.0.3.1-2vmw.500.0.7.515841         VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 net-e1000e            1.1.2-3vmw.500.1.11.623860          VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 net-enic              1.4.2.15a-1vmw.500.0.0.469512       VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 net-forcedeth         0.61-2vmw.500.0.0.469512            VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 net-igb               2.1.11.1-3vmw.500.0.0.469512        VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 net-ixgbe             2.0.84.8.2-10vmw.500.0.0.469512     VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 net-nx-nic            4.0.557-3vmw.500.1.11.623860        VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 net-r8168             8.013.00-3vmw.500.0.0.469512        VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 net-r8169             6.011.00-2vmw.500.0.0.469512        VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 net-s2io              2.1.4.13427-3vmw.500.0.0.469512     VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 net-sky2              1.20-2vmw.500.0.0.469512            VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 net-tg3               3.110h.v50.4-4vmw.500.0.0.469512    VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 ohci-usb-ohci         1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512             VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 sata-ahci             3.0-6vmw.500.1.11.623860            VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 sata-ata-piix         2.12-4vmw.500.1.11.623860           VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 sata-sata-nv          3.5-3vmw.500.0.0.469512             VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 sata-sata-promise     2.12-3vmw.500.0.0.469512            VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 sata-sata-sil         2.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512             VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 sata-sata-svw         2.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512             VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 scsi-aacraid          1.1.5.1-9vmw.500.1.11.623860        VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 scsi-adp94xx          1.0.8.12-6vmw.500.0.0.469512        VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 scsi-aic79xx          3.1-5vmw.500.0.0.469512             VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 scsi-bnx2i            1.9.1d.v50.1-3vmw.500.0.0.469512    VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 scsi-fnic             1.5.0.3-1vmw.500.0.0.469512         VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 scsi-hpsa             5.0.0-17vmw.500.0.0.469512          VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 scsi-ips              7.12.05-4vmw.500.0.0.469512         VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 scsi-lpfc820          8.2.2.1-18vmw.500.0.0.469512        VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 scsi-megaraid-mbox    2.20.5.1-6vmw.500.0.0.469512        VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 scsi-megaraid-sas     5.34-1vmw.500.1.11.623860           VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 scsi-megaraid2        2.00.4-9vmw.500.0.0.469512          VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 scsi-mpt2sas          06.00.00.00-6vmw.500.1.11.623860    VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 scsi-mptsas           4.23.01.00-5vmw.500.0.0.469512      VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 scsi-mptspi           4.23.01.00-5vmw.500.0.0.469512      VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 scsi-qla2xxx          901.k1.1-14vmw.500.0.0.469512       VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 scsi-qla4xxx          5.01.03.2-3vmw.500.0.0.469512       VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 scsi-rste             2.0.2.0088-1vmw.500.1.11.623860     VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 uhci-usb-uhci         1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512             VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20 tools-light           5.0.0-1.11.623860                   VMware  VMwareCertified   2012-11-20

~ # esxcli software vib update -d=/vmfs/volumes/50ab7d53-c6c64e41-01a5-001a64239fda/ESXi500-201207001.zip

Installation Result   

Message: The update completed successfully, but the system needs to be rebooted for the changes to be effective.    Reboot Required: true    VIBs Installed: VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.0.0-1.18.768111, VMware_bootbank_misc-drivers_5.0.0-1.18.768111, VMware_bootbank_net-e1000_8.0.3.1-2vmw.500.1.18.768111, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptsas_4.23.01.00-5vmw.500.1.18.768111, VMware_locker_tools-light_5.0.0-1.18.768111    VIBs Removed: VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.0.0-1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_misc-drivers_5.0.0-1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_net-e1000_8.0.3.1-2vmw.500.0.7.515841, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptsas_4.23.01.00-5vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_locker_tools-light_5.0.0-1.11.623860    VIBs Skipped: VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-amd_0.3.10-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-atiixp_0.4.6-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-cmd64x_0.2.5-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-hpt3x2n_0.3.4-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-pdc2027x_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-serverworks_0.4.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-sil680_0.4.8-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-via_0.3.3-2vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_block-cciss_3.6.14-10vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ehci-ehci-hcd_1.0-3vmw.500.1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_esx-tboot_5.0.0-0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ima-qla4xxx_2.01.07-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-devintf_39.1-4vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-msghandler_39.1-4vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-si-drv_39.1-4vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_misc-cnic-register_1.1-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-be2net_4.0.88.0-1vmw.500.0.7.515841, VMware_bootbank_net-bnx2_2.0.15g.v50.11-5vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-bnx2x_1.61.15.v50.1-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-cnic_1.10.2j.v50.7-2vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-e1000e_1.1.2-3vmw.500.1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_net-enic_1.4.2.15a-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-forcedeth_0.61-2vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-igb_2.1.11.1-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-ixgbe_2.0.84.8.2-10vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-nx-nic_4.0.557-3vmw.500.1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_net-r8168_8.013.00-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-r8169_6.011.00-2vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-s2io_2.1.4.13427-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-sky2_1.20-2vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-tg3_3.110h.v50.4-4vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ohci-usb-ohci_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_sata-ahci_3.0-6vmw.500.1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_sata-ata-piix_2.12-4vmw.500.1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-nv_3.5-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-promise_2.12-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-sil_2.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-svw_2.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aacraid_1.1.5.1-9vmw.500.1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_scsi-adp94xx_1.0.8.12-6vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aic79xx_3.1-5vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-bnx2i_1.9.1d.v50.1-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-fnic_1.5.0.3-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-hpsa_5.0.0-17vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-ips_7.12.05-4vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-lpfc820_8.2.2.1-18vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-mbox_2.20.5.1-6vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-sas_5.34-1vmw.500.1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid2_2.00.4-9vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mpt2sas_06.00.00.00-6vmw.500.1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_scsi-mptspi_4.23.01.00-5vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-qla2xxx_901.k1.1-14vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-qla4xxx_5.01.03.2-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-rste_2.0.2.0088-1vmw.500.1.11.623860, VMware_bootbank_uhci-usb-uhci_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 ~ #