vCenter Server is the backbone of VMware’s virtualization management, providing centralized control over your vSphere environment.

Keeping it updated is crucial for security, stability, and access to new features. Regular updates patch vulnerabilities, improve performance, and ensure compatibility with the latest hardware and software.

In this post we will see step by step how we can update and upgrade our vCenter Server (VCSA) by using the vCenter Server Appliance Management Interface (VAMI).

The vCenter Server Appliance Management Interface (VAMI) is a web-based management portal for administering and maintaining the vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA). It provides an easy-to-use interface for performing essential system tasks without requiring direct CLI access.

Log in with the root credentials set during vCenter deployment.
http://<vCenter-IP-or-Hostname>:5480


About patching the vCenter Server offline via CLI you can read the following article https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/370115/patching-vcenter-server-appliance-via-cl.html.

About how to upgrade vCenter Server from version 7 to 8, you can also read my following post.

Upgrade the VMware vSphere Environment from Version 7 to 8 – Part 1 – Upgrade vCenter Server Appliance


Table Of Contents
  1. Update vCenter Server by using the VAMI
  2. Links


Update vCenter Server by using the VAMI

Browse to the vCenter Server Appliance Management Interface (VAMI) under http://<vCenter-IP-or-Hostname>:5480 and click on Update.


The Updates tab in the vSphere client can now be used to apply vCenter Server updates and upgrades using Reduced Downtime Upgrade (RDU).

Reduced Downtime Upgrade (RDU) is a new mechanism introduced for upgrading the self-managed vCenter Servers with decreased downtime.

Self-managed vCenter Server is one that manages its own ESXi host and its own virtual machine. This does not require a jump host to mount the ISO but the vCenter ISO needs to be mounted on the CD-ROM device of the vCenter Server Virtual Machine. The Workflow is integrated inside the vCenter Server itself.

Source: https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article?legacyId=92659


By clicking on Settings below we can adjust if updates will be checked automatically and we can choose between the default repository and a custom.


Before performing any updates or upgrades we should first create a snapshot for the vCenter Server in case something goes wrong.


We can also first run the pre-updates checks, but finally they will also run when clicking directly on Stage and Install.


Now we can click on Stage and Install.

In vCenter Server, staging refers to the process of pre-downloading the update files to the vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) before actually applying the update. This helps to reduce downtime by ensuring all necessary files are ready when you initiate the update



These are just warnings about not been created file-based backup of my vCenter Server and that files which cannot be used with Lifecycle Manager will not be copied from the repository. Finally I can ignore these messages.

So I will click on Ignore and Continue.



Finally click on Finish.


The installation of the updates are now in progress.



During the update/upgrade process the vCenter Server Appliance Management Interface (VAMI) will be sometimes unavailable.


Just wait and try it later, the vCenter Server Appliance Management Interface (VAMI) will get responsible again.


Finally the updates were successfully installed.


When checking updates again, now no new updates are available and vCenter Server is up to date.


On the History tab we can see all installed updates in past.


Links

VMware vCenter Server Versions and Build Numbers
https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/326316/build-numbers-and-versions-of-vmware-vce.html

Patching/Updating VMware vCenter Server Appliance VCSA and Platform Service Controller PSC through Appliance Management Interface VAMI
https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/316584/patchingupdating-vmware-vcenter-server-a.html

Patching vCenter Server Appliance via CLI
https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/370115/patching-vcenter-server-appliance-via-cl.html