VMware vSphere 4.1: The End of an Era for Guest OS Patching?

In a recent guest post on GestaltIT, Dwayne Lessner, the brains behind IT Blood Pressure, posed an intriguing question: Is My Favourite VSphere Tool Going Away? The answer, it turns out, is yes and no. According to the VMware vSphere 4.1 release notes, the latest version of vCenter Update Manager (VUM) will be the last to allow patching of Windows and Linux guests. This has sparked some debate about the wisdom of this decision, with Dwayne Lessner arguing that it is a bad thing, while I take a different view.

First, let me say that I have never understood why VMware saw it as their job to patch the operating systems running on their guests. In my experience, the vast majority of vSphere administrators use native patching solutions like Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) to keep their guest OSes up to date, rather than relying on VUM. So, while I can understand why some might be upset by this change, I don’t think it will have a significant impact on most vSphere environments.

That being said, there may be some use cases where VUM was the only practical solution for patching guests. For example, in environments where WSUS is not feasible due to network or security constraints, VUM provided a convenient way to keep guests up to date without having to manually apply updates. However, I would argue that these use cases are relatively rare, and that the loss of this feature can only be a good thing.

One of the main benefits of separating patching responsibilities between native solutions like WSUS and VUM is that it allows for greater flexibility and control over the patching process. By using native patching solutions, administrators can more easily manage updates across their environment, without having to rely on a single tool like VUM. Additionally, native patching solutions are often better suited to handle complex update scenarios, such as applying updates to multiple guests at once or rolling back updates that have caused issues.

Furthermore, while I can understand why some might be attached to the idea of using VUM for guest OS patching, I believe that losing this feature can only be a good thing. By focusing on its core strengths – such as patching VMware products and providing centralized management for vSphere environments – VUM can become a more streamlined and effective tool.

In fact, I would argue that the end of guest OS patching in VUM is an opportunity for VMware to explore new features and capabilities that can provide even greater value to its customers. For example, the company could extend VUM’s functionality to include patching for VMware Workstation, Fusion, and Player installations – a feature that would be incredibly useful for many vSphere administrators.

In conclusion, while the end of guest OS patching in VUM may come as a disappointment to some, I believe that it is a positive development for the tool and the industry as a whole. By separating patching responsibilities between native solutions and centralized management tools like VUM, administrators can enjoy greater flexibility and control over their patching processes, leading to more efficient and effective update management. So while we may mourn the loss of this feature, I believe that the future of vSphere patching is bright indeed.