Patching and Maintaining HPE Custom ESXi Images Maintaining an up-to-date VMware ESXi environment on HPE hardware requires a strategic balance between core VMware security patches and vendor-specific drivers. Using an is the best practice for initial installations and major upgrades, as it includes essential drivers for network and storage controllers (especially for Gen9, Gen10, and newer servers) that are missing from standard VMware ISOs. Understanding the Update Hierarchy Updates typically fall into two categories:
hpe-* VIBs when I run esxcli software vib list | grep hpe after patching?Always update firmware (BIOS, iLO, Smart Array) using HPE SPP before patching ESXi with HPE custom VIBs. hpe custom image for esxi patched
You can maintain your HPE environment using three primary methods, depending on your infrastructure size and management tools. 1. vSphere Lifecycle Manager (vLCM) - Best for Clusters HPE Custom Image Patching and Maintaining HPE Custom
# Check current HPE driver versions esxcli software vib list | grep -E "hpe|hpv|ams" [ ] Is my source image based on the official HPE Custom ISO
For administrators managing HPE ProLiant or Synergy hardware, maintaining a is critical for hardware stability and security. HPE generally provides "baseline" custom images for major updates (e.g., ESXi 8.0 U3), but you must often apply the latest VMware security patches yourself. Quick Guide: How to Patch Your HPE Custom ESXi Image 1. Use vSphere Lifecycle Manager (vLCM)