Several days ago VMware spends vSphere 6.5 the Update 1. This is the first major update since 8 month and includes many fixes which were found in this time.

vCenter Server, the vSphere Client and vSAN got some exciting enhancements and capabilities. The upgrade from 6.0 U3 to 6.5 U1 is now possible. This release is the last supporting release for third party vSwitches.

Find out what and how to install the update in this article.

Update/Installation

First for all who wants to update now:
Install major updates of vSphere first to the vCenter. The vCenter version must be equal or higher than the ESXi version!

If you want to update your vCenter 6.5 to 6.5 Update 1 go to the following article
Update vCenter Server 6.5 to 6.5U1

Whats new in vSphere 6.5 Update 1?

Discontinuation of third party vSwitch program

In this release it is possible to use the third party vSwitches like Cisco Nexus 1000V, HPE or IBM DVS 5000v. Customers who are using third party vSwitches have to migrate to the VMware vSphere Distributed Switch in this release. After that release the third party switches will no longer work.

Go to the VMware FAQ article to find out more.

vCenter Server

VMware has raised up the maximums scale numbers

  • Max. vCenter Servers per vSphere Domain 15 < from 10
  • Max. ESXi Host per vSphere Domain: 5,000 < from 4,000
  • Max. powered on VMs per vSphere Domain: 50,000 < from 30,000
  • Max. registered VMs per vSphere Domain: 70,000 < from 50,000

The new maximums guide can be found here: http://vmw.re/65u1max

Now you can install the appliance from your macOS Sierra 10.12 in a full supported way :)

vSphere Client

The biggest improvements in the vSphere client are in management areas of Virtual Distributed Switch, datastore and host configuration. VMware now has completed 90% of general vSphere Client workflows and is pushing hard towards 100%.

Dennis Lu, Product Manager of the vSphere Clients gives some more details in his blog.

vSAN

One of the new vSAN capabilities is the integration of vSAN to the vSphere Update Manager. This feature will help to find updates including firmware, drivers and vSphere software regarding vSAN. Pete Flecha wrote an interesting blog article about the integration.