Install ESXi Host Update from Command Line

The easiest way to install ESXi host update is via Update Manager. However, if you don’t have Update Manager installed in the environment (e.g. the lab), or Update Manager does not have the access to the Internet, installing the update via the command line is quiet handy.

Follow the instruction on this VMware KB. The following is a short summary.

1. Find the needed update by comparing the build number on the host with this site web or this VMware KB
2. Download the ESXi update for the VMware patch portal. Normally it’s a ZIP file.
3. Upload the ZIP file to the local storage on the host
4. Power off the VMs on the host or migrate to another host
5. Put the host in the maintenance mode
6. Enable SSH on the host
7. SSH to the host
8. Run esxcli software vib update -d /vmfs/volumes/DataStore/DirectoryName/PatchName.zip
   if it’s a VIB file, run esxcli software vib update -v /vmfs/volumes/DataStore/DirectoryName/PatchName.vib
9. Verify the update is installed, esxcli software vib list
10. Run reboot
11. Exit the maintenance mode

Markdown Tables Generator

As I mentioned in my last post, I start using StackEdit, instead of Windows Live Writer, to post updates on my Blogger site. One of the functions I want to test in StackEdit is to add tables in the post.

It’s very easy to insert a table in Windows Live Writer. And I can even prepare a table in Excel, then copy/paste in Windows Live Writer and post in Blogger. The format of the table mostly maintains on the post.

The following table is from one of my previous post. The table is originally created in Excel. When using the Blogger web editor to make the table readable, I need to paste it in Word, reformat the column width to fit the width of my blog (after a few reposts), save it as “Web Page, Filtered” htm file, open the htm in Notepad, and copy/paste the HTML codes to Blogger.

StackEdit doesn’t have the “built-in” GUI tool to add a table. Fortunately, the Markdown Tables Generator exists. I copy the table from Excel, use File –> Paste table data to generate the markdown, click “Copy to clipboard”, and paste them in StackEdit. Let us see how it looks. Except the grid border line not showing, the rest of format looks right.

Access Method	Lockdown Mode Disabled	Normal Lockdown Mode	Strict Lockdown Mode
vCenter	Yes	Yes	Yes
Direct Console access (DCUI) with root	Yes	Yes	No
Direct Console access (DCUI) with account (local account only) defined in DCUI.Access advanced option for the host	Yes	Yes	No
Direct Console access (DCUI) with accounts in Exception User list for lockdown mode & administrative priviledge on the host (if the ESXi host is joined an AD domain, only AD account; if the ESXi host is not joined an AD domain, local account)	N/A	Yes	No
vSphere Client directly to ESXi with root	Yes	No	No
vSphere Client directly to ESXi with account (local account only) defined in DCUI.Access advanced option for the host	No	No	No
vSphere Client directly to ESXi with accounts in Exception User list for lockdown mode & administrative privilege on the host (if the ESXi host is joined an AD domain, only AD account; if the ESXi host is not joined an AD domain, local account)	N/A	Yes	Yes
PowerCLI / CLI to ESXi with root	Yes	No	No
PowerCLI / CLI to ESXi with account (local account only) defined in DCUI.Access advanced option for the host	No	No	No
PowerCLI / CLI to ESXi with accounts in Exception User list for lockdown mode & administrative privilege on the host (if the ESXi host is joined an AD domain, only AD account; if the ESXi host is not joined an AD domain, local account)	N/A	Yes	Yes

Blogger Editor

As you are reading this blog, you know it’s a Blogger site. Microsoft Windows Live Writer has been my favorite editor to publish on the site.

Since May 2015, Windows Live Writer stopped working after Google ended support the old authentication protocol. It looks there is a way to work around this problem (see the answer posted on the Microsoft Community site).

I have not tried the work around myself. Since Windows Live Writer is a fairly old application. I am looking for a replacement. I tried BlogJet and Zoundry Raven (Raven seems no longer being updated), but not success. Searching in Chrome Web Store, I found StackEdit. The UI is very simple and nice. This is my first post using StackEdit.

vSphere 6 Lockdown Mode Access Summary

The Lockdown mode in vSphere v.6 is different comparing with the previous version (v.5).
vSphere 6 introduces a couple of new concepts:

·         Normal Lockdown Mode

·         Strict Lockdown Mode

·         Exception Users

The following table summarizes the access method in each Lockdown Mode.

Access Method	Lockdown Mode Disabled	Normal Lockdown Mode	Strict Lockdown Mode
vCenter	Yes	Yes	Yes
Direct Console access (DCUI) with root	Yes	Yes	No
Direct Console access (DCUI) with account (local account only) defined in DCUI.Access advanced option for the host	Yes	Yes	No
Direct Console access (DCUI) with accounts in Exception User for lockdown mode & administrative privilege on the host (if the ESXi host is joined an AD domain, only AD account; if the ESXi host is not joined an AD domain, local account)	N/A	Yes	No
vSphere Client directly to ESXi with root	Yes	No	No
vSphere Client directly to ESXi with account (local account only) defined in DCUI.Access advanced option for the host	No	No	No
vSphere Client directly to ESXi with accounts in Exception User for lockdown mode & administrative privilege on the host (if the ESXi host is joined an AD domain, only AD account; if the ESXi host is not joined an AD domain, local account)	N/A	Yes	Yes
PowerCLI / CLI to ESXi with root	Yes	No	No
PowerCLI / CLI to ESXi with account (local account only) defined in DCUI.Access advanced option for the host	No	No	No
PowerCLI / CLI to ESXi with accounts in Exception User for lockdown mode & administrative privilege on the host (if the ESXi host is joined an AD domain, only AD account; if the ESXi host is not joined an AD domain, local account)	N/A	Yes	Yes

 

How to fix Print Screen hotkey registration failure

I like to use a third party screen capture utility, e.g. ShareX or Greenshot, etc, instead of the Windows built-in Snipping Tool. I configure the utility to load at the startup and set the print screen key to capture the region and copy the image to clipboard, so I can easily paste the screen shot into a document.

After installing November 10, 2015 Windows Update on my Windows 10 laptop (PS. my Windows 8 laptop does not have this issue with the update.), I got the following message after the system reboot.

I make sure I don't have any other screen capture utilities running the background. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling ShareX, no lucky. Then I installed another screen capture utility - Greenshot, I got the similar message.

I double checked no two screen capture utilities running at the same time.

To figure out which program is registered the Screen Print hotkey, I installed the Windows Hotkey Explorer tool (http://hkcmdr.anymania.com). However, it reported no program is using the Screen Print hotkey.

When searching on the web, some one mentioned Dropbox or OneDrive application may configure to automatically upload screenshots to their cloud storage. I don't have Dropbox installed. I have OneDrive, but the screenshot upload to OneDrive is turned off.

Solution:

• Right click on the OneDrive icon on the task bar, and select Settings

• Check the checkbox "Automatically save screenshot I capture to OneDrive", then click OK

• When prompting to choose the folder to save the screenshot, click Cancel

• Open OneDrive's Settings again to verify the checkbox is unchecked

• After "resetting" this OneDrive setting, the screen capture utility is loaded successfully and the print screen hotkey is working as it is configured in the application.

Lunch Hour Workout

New Year resolution, but no time to work out? Try a lunch hour workout. Keep the following in mind.

• Everything counts. Don't have to take place at a gym. Walking (e.g. 30 minutes) around the office counts.
• According to the fitness experts, eat after, not before, the workout
• Do some in-office stretch, bends, push-ups.

Windows 8 Tools

• Classic Shell for Windows 8 (free): brings back the Start menu and button (and more) on Windows 8.
• Virtual Router Plus (free): turns any Windows 7 and Windows 8 computer into a Wifi Hot Spot.