Virtual Admin: How to Install VMware Update Manager

This post is part of VMware vSphere Install, Configure, Manage training series.

VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage

See previous Post for introduction of VMware Update manager - vSphere Update Manager and Host Maintenance

In this post, we will see How to install VMware Update manager and integrate it with vCenter Appliance or vCenter server Installed on Windows System. As mentioned in previous post, vCenter Appliance don’t come with embedded Update manager so we need to install Update manager on separate Windows 64-bit System and Integrate it with vCenter Appliance.

Prerequisite – Install Windows 64-bit on Physical or Virtual server, Do network settings, Add system in Domain and do any other settings as you do for any other Windows server system.

Make sure vCenter, ESXi and Update manager system communicate with each other on Port 80, 443, 802, 902, 9084, 9087.

Step by Step Installation of VMware Update Manager

1. Login to Windows Server where you wish to install Update manager.

2. Setup DSN

If you decide to use embedded SQL Server 2012 Express then you can skip this step.

If you choose to use external SQL Database, you need to first install SQL Native Client driver and setup 32bit ODBC DSN.

Download and install ODBC Native client Driver on Update manager server system.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30440

Download sqlncli_x86.msi and install it.

3. If you choose to go with external SQL server DB, Please login to SQL Server and create SQL DB to use for update manager. Skip this step if you decide to use SQL Express bundled with Update manager.

4. Create ODBC DSN for Update manager

Open Run menu and Type \Windows\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe and hit enter.
It will start ODBC data source Administrator 32 bit configuration.
Click on System DSN menu
Click Add
Scroll down and Select SQL Server Native Client

Click on Finish. This will launch DSN creation Window.
In Create a New Data Source to SQL Server Window, Enter below details
Name – Name of DSN
Description – small description for this DSN
Server - Enter name of SQL server and instance name where update manager database you want to create.

Click Next Once you enter above details.
On next screen, Select how you want to authenticate with SQL server.
SQL Authentication with Integrated Windows Authentication is preferred.
You can also use SQL server Authentication, Enter sql account username/password below if you choose to.
In Below Image am using Integrated Windows Authentication..

Click Next
Select checkbox to Change the default database to
From the drop down menu, select the database name which you have created in Step 3.

On the next screen, review the DSN settings and click on Finish.
Test Data source settings and Click on OK –> OK to close all Windows.

5. Mount or extract VMware vCenter ISO file on Update manager system. You need to use the ISO of vCenter installer for Windows.

6. Double Click on Autorun.exe for to launch vCenter Installer.

7. From vSphere Update Manager Select Server to Install. If you choose to use Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express as DB then select the Checkbox next to Embedded data base option.

In this post, we are using external SQL server

Click Install

8. Select Language and Click on OK

9. if .Net Framework 3.5 is not installed on system, installer will prompt you.

Click on OK to install .Net Framework 3.5

10. Click Next on welcome screen.

11. Accept the terms in the license agreement if you wish to and then Click Next.

12. You can uncheck Download updates from default sources after installation and click Next.

13. Enter vCenter connection information

IP Address/name – Enter vCenter IP or Hostname
HTTP Port – 80 keep it default
Username – Username who has Administrator permissions on vCenter server.
Password – vCenter user password.
Click Next Once done.

14. Select the DSN name which you have created in Step 3, if you don’t see the DSN name here, make sure you have created DSN in 32-bit ODBC. Cancel installation and perform step 3 first and then again start installation.

Click Next to proceed.

15. Click Next on database information page.

Click on OK to Ignore the warning message if you receive for SQL recovery mode.

16. On Update Manager Port settings select How this update manager should be identified in Network i.e. by name or IP, Keep the default ports and Click Next.