Prior to PernixData FVP 2.5, steps required to perform the FVP Host Extension upgrade were manual and took lots of time especially for large environments with many ESXi hosts.
PernixData released an extension to perform the upgrade process using the VMware Update Manager (VUM). Available for FVP 2.5 and later releases, it automates and make the overall procedure easier saving a considerable amount of time.
FVP VUM extension
Using the VUM extension is now possible to perform the following tasks:
- Installing the PernixData FVP Host Extension for the first time
- Upgrading the PernixData FVP Host Extension (for both major version upgrades and hotfix upgrades)
Due to limitations with VUM, the FVP Host Extension uninstall process remain the same as previous releases.
Import PernixData FVP Host Extension for VUM
From PernixData website download the correct version of the FVP Host Extension for VUM to install in your hosts members of the FVP cluster.
From vSphere Client, select Update Manager tab and click on Admin View option.
In the Admin View screen, click on Import Patches link.
Select the PernixData Host Extension VUM file then click Open.
After selecting the host extension, click Next.
In the Security Warning window, enable the Install this certificate and do not display… option then click on Ignore button.
Again, if you receive any warning message click Yes to continue.
The system imports the selected file.
Click Finish to add the PernixData VUM extension to the patch repository.
The PernixData FVP VUM extension has been imported successfully.
Create the baseline
Select the Baseline and Groups tab and click on Create.
Add a Name (i.e. PernixData Host upg), a Description and select the Host Extension as Baseline Type then click Next.
Select PernixData FVP extension and click the down arrow to Add the Extension.
Click Finish to create the baseline.
The baseline has been created.
On the right side of the window, click Compliance View.
Since we need to attach the new baseline, click Attach option.
Select the created baseline PernixData then click on Attach button.
Click Scan to verify the cluster for outdated FVP Host Extensions.
Select Patches and Extensions option then click Scan.
When the system detects updated FVP Host Extensions, click Stage to copy the updates to local host to speed up the installation process.
Select the baseline previously created then click Next.
Click Next to continue.
When ready, click Finish to start staging.
Updates are being staged.
When the process completes, you are ready to upgrade the FVP Host Extensions in your ESXi hosts.
Upgrade the FVP Management Server
Before upgrading the hosts members of the FVP cluster, you need to upgrade the FVP Management Server first to guarantee the correct functionality of FVP. Before starting the process, write down the FVP release currently installed in the system. In the example the release installed is the 3.0.09777.0.
Upgrade FVP Host Extension
Once the FVP Management Server upgrade has been completed, from VMware Upgrade Manager click Remediate to start upgrading the PernixData FVP Host Extension.
Select Extension Baselines option and select the new created PernixData Host upg baseline, then click Next.
Click Next to continue.
Enter a Task Name, a Description and the Remediation Time then click Next.
Select the Host Remediation Options you need to configure then click Next.
Select the Cluster Remediation Options you need to configure then click Next.
Click Finish to start remediation.
The upgrade process takes place.
Depending on the speed of your infrastructure, the procedure takes some minutes to upgrade the ESXi hosts members of the FVP cluster.
If no errors occur during the upgrade process, the FVP Cluster Status is reported as OK.
Checking the FVP release, the version has been upgraded to 3.1.0.1.0278.0. Now all ESXi hosts have been upgraded to latest available release.
This solution not only saves precious time, but reduces the IT load automating the overall hosts upgrade process.
