http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.vcli.ref.doc_50/vihostupdate.html
Examples: http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vcli/vcli41/doc/reference/vihostupdate.html
Update using esxcli
http://communities.vmware.com/people/vmroyale/blog/2011/09/15/updating-esxi-5--single-use-esxcli-how-to
- Check VM Compatibility Guide for host, guest OS's, HBAs, storage devices, etc.
- Download update from VMware site (do not extract) and save to a location accessible by the host, i.e.: datastore1.
- Install vSphere Command-Line Interface (CLI) on your client (or enable shell access (link) and access the console, following commands will vary).
- switch to maintenance mode (GUI) - this requires shutdown of VM's?
- open a command prompt and navigate to where CLI is installed. default is C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware vSphere CLI\bin
- run this command to verify you're connecting to the server. It will list the installed VIBs: esxcli -s [serverIP] -u root software vib list | more
- run this command to install the update: esxcli -s [serverIP] -u root software vib update --depot=/vmfs/volumes/[datastore]/[filename.zip]
- check the result (listed on the screen) that it shows "completed successfully".
- If it also states a reboot is necessary, reboot.
vSphere CLI available on my.vmware.com, login required.
