Overview of vSphere Update Manager

VUM is a tool designed to help VMware administrators automate and streamline the process of applying updates, which could be patches or upgrades, to their vSphere environment. VUM is fully integrated within vCenter Server and offers the ability to scan and remediate ESXi hosts, host extensions (such as EMC's Powerpath/VE multipathing software), older ESX and ESXi hosts (circa 3.5, 4.0, and 4.1), and virtual appliances. VUM can also upgrade VMware Tools and upgrade VM hardware. VUM is also the vehicle used to install and update the Cisco Nexus 1000V third-party distributed virtual switch. The Cisco Nexus 1000V is covered in Chapter 5, “Creating and Configuring Virtual Networks.”