Patch Management Module 13

Importance 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. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Module Objectives Describe VMware vCenter™ 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 VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Update Manager Update Manager enables centralized, automated patch and version management for VMware® ESX™/ESXi hosts, virtual machines, and virtual appliances. Update Manager reduces security risks. Keeping systems up to date reduces the number of vulnerabilities. Many security breaches exploit older vulnerabilities. Reducing the diversity of systems in an environment: Makes management easier Reduces security risks VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Update Manager Capabilities Automated patch downloading: Begins with information-only downloading Is scheduled at regular configurable intervals Contacts the following sources: For ESX/ESXi patching: https://hostupdate.vmware.com For Windows and Linux virtual machines and applications: https://www.shavlik.com For third-party patches: URL of third-party source Creation of baselines and baseline groups Scanning: Inventory systems are scanned for baseline compliance. Remediation: Inventory systems that are not current can be automatically patched. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Update Manager Components vCenter Server system database server hosts Update Manager agents are installed into virtual machines. A A A A A A A A A vCenter Server database optional download server patch database patch database VMware vSphere Client with Update Manager plug-in Update Manager server Internet VMware patch source Shavlik patch source third-party patch source VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Installing Update Manager Update Manager must be installed on a 64-bit machine. To install, start the VMware vCenter Installer and click vCenter 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. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Configuring Update Manager Settings By default, all patch sources are enabled. Add third-party patch sources if necessary. Modify Update Manager configuration properties. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Baseline and Baseline Groups A baseline consists of one or more patches, extensions, or upgrades. There are five types of baselines: Host patch Host extension Host upgrade Virtual machine patch 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 baselines example of default baselines for hosts VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

A host patch is added to this baseline. Creating a Baseline To create a baseline: Click Create. Specify name and description. Choose a baseline type. For a patch baseline, select a patch option: Fixed or Dynamic. Select patches to add to the baseline. A host patch is added to this baseline. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Attaching a 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. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Scanning for Updates Scanning evaluates the inventory object against the baseline or baseline group. A scan can be performed manually or automatically, using a scheduled task. scheduled scan manual scan VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Viewing Compliancy In this example, the scan found two noncompliant hosts. After the scan, a host object can be staged and then remediated. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Remediating Objects You can remediate virtual machines, templates, virtual appliances, and hosts. You can perform the remediation immediately or schedule it for a later date. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Remediation Options for a Cluster When remediating hosts in a cluster, you must temporarily disable certain cluster features: VMware DPM, VMware HA, FT. You can generate a report that identifies problems before remediation occurs. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Patch Recall Notification 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 ESX hosts: Instead, it waits for a newer patch and applies that to make a host compliant. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Remediation Enabled for DRS Eliminate downtime for virtual machines when patching ESX/ESXi hosts: Update Manager puts host in maintenance mode. DRS moves virtual machines to available host. Update Manager patches host and then exits maintenance mode. DRS moves virtual machines back per rule. UM + DRS maintenance mode ! VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Lab 27 In this lab, you will install, configure, and use Update Manager. Install Update Manager. Modify cluster settings. Install and enable the Update Manager plug-in. Configure Update Manager. Create a patch baseline. Attach a baseline and scan for updates. Stage patches and remediate ESXi hosts. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A 18

Module Summary 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 VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Key Points Update Manager patches and updates ESX/ESXi 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. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A