Here are the steps you need to follow to do an update to a ESXi5.5 server from the command line:
Taken from the following guide:
https://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-51/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.vmware.vsphere.upgrade.doc%2FGUID-E51C5DB6-F28E-42E8-ACA4-0EBDD11DF55D.html
Note: You must run the following to enable https access for esxcli:
esxcli network firewall ruleset set -e true -r httpClient
1. Find an update profile to use:
esxcli software sources profile list \ --depot=https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/main/vmw-depot-index.xml | grep 201410
The | is optional but you can grep for later versions.
2. Check with dryrun
esxcli software profile update --dry-run -d \ https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/main/vmw-depot-index.xml \ -p ESXi-5.5.0-201410001001s-standard Enter Maintenance mode:
esxcli <conn_options> system maintenanceMode set --enable true to enter maintenance mode. |
After all virtual machines on the host have been suspended or migrated, the host enters maintenance mode. You cannot deploy or power on a virtual machine on hosts in maintenance mode.
esxcli <conn_options> system maintenanceMode set --enable false to have a host exit maintenance mode. |
3. Use that profile to update:
esxcli software profile update -d / https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/main/vmw-depot-index.xml \ -p ESXi-5.5.0-201410001001s-standard
4. Review Event log – you should see an installation message like the following:
Successfully installed 17 VIB(s), removed 16 VIB(s). Please use 'esxcli software profile get' or see log for more detail about the transaction.