Patch Management
Module 13
Course Introduction Introduction to Virtualization
Creating Virtual Machines VMware vCenter Server
Configuring and Managing Virtual Networks Configuring and Managing vSphere Storage
Virtual Machine Management
Data Protection
Access and Authentication Control Resource Management and Monitoring
High Availability and Fault Tolerance Host Scalability
Patch Management
Installing VMware vSphere Components
You Are Here
Over time, your VMware vSphere® environment might undergo change in its hardware or software configuration, or in the form of software updates or patches.
From a manageability and scalability perspective, you should implement changes to your vSphere environment in an orderly, controlled, and systematic fashion.
Importance
After this module, you should be able to do the following:
Describe VMware vSphere® Update Manager™.
List the steps to install Update Manager.
Use Update Manager:•
Create and attach a baseline.•
Scan an inventory object.•
Remediate an inventory object.Learner Objectives
Update Manager enables centralized, automated patch and version management for VMware vSphere® ESXi™ hosts, virtual machine hardware, VMware® Tools™, and virtual appliances.
Update Manager reduces security risks:
Reduces the number of vulnerabilities.
Eliminates many security breaches that exploit older vulnerabilities.Update Manager reduces the diversity of systems in an environment:
Makes management easier
Reduces security risksUpdate Manager keeps machines running more smoothly:
Patches include bug fixes
Makes troubleshooting easierUpdate Manager
Enables cross-platform upgrade from VMware® ESX® to ESXi®
Automated patch downloading:
Begins with information-only downloading
Is scheduled at regular configurable intervals
Contacts the following sources for patching ESXi hosts:•
For VMware® patches: https://hostupdate.vmware.com•
For third-party patches: URL of third-party sourceCreation of baselines and baseline groups Scanning:
Inventory systems are scanned for baseline compliance.Remediation:
Inventory systems that are not current can be automatically patched.Reduces the number of reboots required after VMware Tools updates
Update Manager Capabilities
Update Manager Components
VMware vCenter Server™ system
Update Manager server
database server
vCenter Server database
patch database
VMware patch source hosts
optional download server VMware vSphere®
Client™ with Update Manager
plug-in Internet
patch database
third-party patch source
Update Manager must be installed on a Windows 64-bit machine.
To install, start the VMware vCenter Installer and click VMware vSphere Update Manager.
Information needed during the installation:
vCenter Server host name, user name, and password
Choice of database: use default or existing database
Update Manager port settings:•
Host name, ports, proxy settings (if necessary)
Destination folder and location for downloading patches To install the Update Manager client:
Install the Update Manager Extension plug-in into the vSphere Client.Installing Update Manager
Configuring Update Manager Settings
Modify Update Manager configuration
properties.
By default, all patch sources are enabled. Additional patch sources can be added
if necessary.
A baseline consists of one or more patches, extensions, or upgrades.
Five types of baselines:
Host patch
Host extension
Host upgrade
Virtual machine upgradefor hardware or VMware Tools
Virtual appliance upgrade Update Manager includes a number of default baselines.A baseline group consists of multiple baselines:
Can contain one upgrade baseline per type and one or more patch and extension baselinesBaseline and Baseline Groups
example of default baselines for hosts
To create a baseline:
1. Click Create.
2. Specify name and description.
3. Choose a baseline type.
4. For a patch baseline, select a patch option: Fixed or Dynamic.
5. Select patches to add to the baseline.
Creating a Baseline
A host patch is added to this
baseline.
To view compliance information and remediate inventory objects, first attach a baseline or baseline group to an object.
For improved efficiency, attach a baseline to a container object instead of to an individual object.
Attaching a Baseline
Scanning evaluates the inventory object against the baseline or baseline group.
A scan can be performed manually or automatically, using a scheduled task.
Scanning for Updates
Viewing Compliance
In this example, the scan found two noncompliant
hosts.
After the scan, patches and updates can be staged first and then remediated at a later time.
You can remediate virtual machines, templates, virtual appliances, and hosts.
You can perform the remediation immediately or schedule it for a later date.
Remediating Objects
Maintenance Mode and Remediation
Power off or suspend virtual machines
Option for PXE-booted
ESXi 5.0
Remediation Options for a Cluster
When remediating hosts in a cluster, you must temporarily disable certain cluster features:
VMware vSphere® Distributed Power Management™, VMware vSphere® High Availability, and VMware vSphere® Fault Tolerance.
You can generate a report that identifies problems before remediation
occurs.
At regular intervals, Update Manager contacts VMware to download notifications about patch recalls, new fixes, and alerts.
Notification Check Schedule is selected by default.On receiving patch recall notifications, Update Manager:
Generates a notification in the notification tab
No longer applies the recalled patch to any host:•
Patch is flagged as recalled in the database.
Deletes the patch binaries from its patch repository
Does not uninstall recalled patches from ESXi hosts:•
Instead, it waits for a newer patch and applies that to make a host compliant.Patch Recall Notification
Eliminate downtime for virtual machines when patching ESXi hosts:
1. Update Manager puts host in maintenance mode.
2. VMware vSphere® Distributed Resource Scheduler™ moves virtual machines to available host.
3. Update Manager patches host and then exits maintenance mode.
4. DRS moves virtual machines back per rule.
Remediation Enabled for DRS
maintenance mode UM + DRS
!
In this lab, you will install, configure, and use Update Manager.
1. Install Update Manager.
2. Install the Update Manager plug-in into the vSphere Client.
3. Modify cluster settings.
4. Configure Update Manager.
5. Create a patch baseline.
6. Attach a baseline and scan for updates.
7. Stage the patches onto the ESXi hosts.
8. Remediate the ESXi hosts.
Lab 23
You should be able to do the following:
Describe Update Manager.
List the steps to install Update Manager.
Use Update Manager:•
Create and attach a baseline.•
Scan an inventory object.•
Remediate an inventory object.Review of Learner Objectives
Update Manager patches and updates ESXi 5.1 hosts as well earlier versions of hosts, virtual machines, templates, and virtual appliances.
Update Manager reduces security vulnerabilities by keeping systems up to date and by reducing the diversity of systems in an environment.
Update Manager no longer patches guest operating systems or the applications running within guest operating systems.Questions?
