Note:

• It is possible to upgrade/patch ESX 2.x remotely using tar ball and perl script from VMware
• We must change the boot process to make sure the VMkernel is not loaded during this period using LILO commands 

1. Download the tar.gz file from VMware – use md5sum to check the file has not been corrupted
2. Using scp or WinSCP transfer the tar.gz file to your /tmp or /vmimages location   
3. Untar the tar.gz file with: tar -xvzf esx-2.5.x.xxxxx-upgrade.tar

   Note:
   This will take some time! 

4. Change the boot option and Reboot ESX withlilo -R linux-up
   reboot        

   Note:
   When you reconnect to the Service Console, confirm you have not loaded the Vmkernel. An easy check is to ls /vmfs. No Vmkernel, No VMFS…

   When you reconnect to the Service Console, confirm you have not loaded the Vmkernel. An easy check is to ls /vmfs. No Vmkernel, No VMFS…

   When you reconnect to the Service Console, confirm you have not loaded the Vmkernel. An easy check is to ls /vmfs. No Vmkernel, No VMFS… 

5. cd in to the esx-2.5.x.xxxxx -upgrade directory
6. Run the Perl script called ./upgrade.pl Note:
   This will give status messages like so:  This script will upgrade your ESX server to version 2.5.2
   Verifying files … done
   Upgrading packages …….
   Running vmware-config.pl … done
   *** You must reboot the system to finish the upgrade ***  

    

    

7. Choose N, to the reboot
8. Reset the boot order with:lilo -R esx
   reboot