This is a quick guide to updating VMware’s vSphere server to allow support for Windows 8 and Windows server 2012 using the Update Manager.
First, insert the vSphere install cd and select VMware vSphere update manager from the left hand side, followed by the install button:
Select your language:
‘Next’ through the welcome screen:
‘Next’ through the license agreements:
accept the defaults for the ‘Download updates’ checkbox and press ‘next’
Enter your vSphere login information and click ‘next’
Leave the database option at default and press ‘next’
Accept the default ports and press ‘next’
Accept the default location and press ‘next’
finished installing!
Restart will be required after installing the Update manager, but it will only restart the vSphere server:
Finally, in the vSphere client, go to ‘plug-ins -> manage plug-ins’
Scroll down to the vSphere update manager and click ‘Download and Install’
Next, go to the newly installed ‘update manager’ tab and click ‘attach’
select ‘critical host patches’ and then click ‘attach’
Next, click scan…
check both boxes, and click scan….
The last step is to click ‘Stage’ and then ‘Remediate’… WARNING:::: this will cause the highlighted ESXi server to restart if necessary, if there are any vm’s running on that ESXi server they will attempt to be migrated to another host in the cluster. If all hosts can’t be moved, the remediation will fail.
Once your ESXi hosts are all patched, you should be able to boot and run Windows 8 as well as Windows Server 2012 successfully!