VxRail: How to update the VMware Tools version in the ESXi host

Download the "VMware Tools Offline VIB Bundle" from the Broadcom support page. Go to the "My Downloads" section and search by "VMware Tools." Select the wanted version and download the Offline VIB Bundle:

Before applying the update, you can check the current VMware Tools version in the ESXi host. Access the ESXi host by SSH and running the following command:

esxcli software component get | grep VMware-VM-Tools -B 1 -A 14

Example:

[root@host01:~] esxcli software component get | grep VMware-VM-Tools -B 1 -A 14

VMware-VM-Tools_12.3.5.22544099-23794019
   Name: VMware-VM-Tools
   Display Name: ESXi VM Tools
   Version: 12.3.5.22544099-23794019
   Display Version: 12.3.5
   VIBs: VMware_locker_tools-light_12.3.5.22544099-23794019
   Vendor: VMware
   Summary: ESXi Tools Component
   Severity: general
   Urgency: critical
   Category: security
   Release Type: patch
   Kburl: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/rn/vsphere-esxi-70u3q-release-notes/index.html#Resolved%20Issues-VMware-VM-Tools_12.3.5.22544099-23794019
   Description: This component contains the tools VIB.
   Contact: VMware
   ReleaseDate: 05-21-2024

In this case, the current VMware Tools version in the ESXi host is "12.3.5.22544099-23794019."

In the ESXi host, create a temporary directory to place the "VMware Tools Offline VIB Bundle." In this case, the "VMware Tools Offline VIB Bundle" version 12.4.5 is approximately 370 MB in size. You must place this file in a supported directory in the ESXi host. In this example, we create a temporary directory inside a local datastore:

[root@host01:~] cd /vmfs/volumes/LOCAL-DATASTORE

[root@host01:/vmfs/volumes/LOCAL-DATASTORE] mkdir vmware-tools-temp

After creating the temporary directory, copy the file "VMware Tools Offline VIB Bundle" into it. You can copy the file to the ESXi host using WinSCP, Powershell, or your preferred application.

To update the VMware Tools version, it is unnecessary to put the ESXi host in maintenance mode or reboot it. You can use the following command to confirm it:

esxcli software sources vib get --depot=file:/vmfs/volumes/LOCAL-DATASTORE/vmware-tools-temp/VMware-Tools-12.4.5-core-offline-depot-ESXi-all-23787635.zip

Example of command output:

VMware_locker_tools-light_6.5.0-12.4.5.23787635
   Name: tools-light
   Version: 6.5.0-12.4.5.23787635
   Type: locker
   Vendor: VMware
   Acceptance Level: VMwareCertified
   Summary: VMware Tools VIB for Windows and Linux guests for ESXi 6.5.0
   Description: This package contains cdrom and floppy images used to install the VMware Tools inside virtual machines.
   ReferenceURLs:
   Creation Date: 2024-05-22
   Depends: esx-version = 6.5.0
   Conflicts:
   Replaces:
   Provides:
   Maintenance Mode Required: False
   Hardware Platforms Required:
   Live Install Allowed: True
   Live Remove Allowed: True
   Stateless Ready: True
   Overlay: False
   Tags:
   Payloads: tools

VMware_locker_tools-light_12.4.5.23787635-23919197
   Name: tools-light
   Version: 12.4.5.23787635-23919197
   Type: locker
   Vendor: VMware
   Acceptance Level: VMwareCertified
   Summary: VMware Tools VIB for Windows and Linux guests (generated by vmtoolspkg build 23919197)
   Description: This package contains cdrom and floppy images used to install the VMware Tools inside virtual machines.
   ReferenceURLs:
   Creation Date: 2024-05-22
   Depends: esx-version >= 6.6.0
   Conflicts:
   Replaces:
   Provides:
   Maintenance Mode Required: False
   Hardware Platforms Required:
   Live Install Allowed: True
   Live Remove Allowed: True
   Stateless Ready: True
   Overlay: False
   Tags:
   Payloads: tools

To apply the update, you can run the following command:

esxcli software vib install --depot=file:/vmfs/volumes/LOCAL-DATASTORE/vmware-tools-temp/VMware-Tools-12.4.5-core-offline-depot-ESXi-all-23787635.zip

Example of command output:

[root@vxrail01:/vmfs/volumes/LOCAL-DATASTORE/vmware-tools-temp] esxcli software vib install --depot=file:/vmfs/volumes/LOCAL-DATASTORE/vmware-tools-temp/VMware-Tools-12.4.5-core-offline-depot-ESXi-all-23787635.zip
Installation Result
   Message: Operation finished successfully.
   Reboot Required: false
   VIBs Installed: VMware_locker_tools-light_12.4.5.23787635-23919197
   VIBs Removed: VMware_locker_tools-light_12.3.5.22544099-23794019
   VIBs Skipped:

After that, you can check the VMware Tools version:

[root@vxrail01:/vmfs/volumes/LOCAL-DATASTORE/vmware-tools-temp] esxcli software component get | grep VMware-VM-Tools -B 1 -A 14TOOLS-23919197
   Name: VMware-VM-Tools
   Display Name: VMware Tools Async Release
   Version: 12.4.5.23787635-23919197
   Display Version: 12.4.5
   VIBs: VMware_locker_tools-light_12.4.5.23787635-23919197
   Vendor: VMware
   Summary: VMware Tools 12.4.5 Async Release
   Severity: general
   Urgency: important
   Category: bugfix
   Release Type: patch
   Kburl: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Tools/12.4/rn/vmware-tools-1245-release-notes/index.html
   Description: VMware Tools 12.4.5 Async Release
   Contact: http://www.vmware.com/support/contacts/
   ReleaseDate: 06-27-2024

As you can see, the new VMware Tools version is "12.4.5.23787635-23919197."

Now, you can access the vSphere Client, select the ESXi host that you updated the VMware Tools, and update the VMware Tools on VMs running on it.