esxcli software install returns with Error: Unknown command or namespace software install

Question

When attempting to load a vib onto an ESXi 6.5 installation

[root@myserver:~] esxcli software install

I get the error:

Error: Unknown command or namespace software install

Has anybody seen this error and is it a setting that I am just missed and can get past. I thought it was an error and I reloaded the hypervisor to a slightly newer version, however I'm getting the same error. Seems like I am missing something simple, however I'm not sure.

Answer 1

I know this is an old topic however for better understanding you should copy/paste the complete output of your issue. In addition to that we are also missing some information here like the version, if the command do exists :

[root@yourhost] vmware -vl

[root@yourhost] esxcli software -h

To anticipate a bit here is one of the maintenance command used by SysAdmin:

esxcli software vib install -v /vmfs/volumes/datastore/folder/scsi-driver-udpate.x86_64.vib

I hope that will help.

Regards,

Regis

Answer 2

You are getting this error due to incorrect command syntax. I'm guessing you are trying to install a vib package.

Instead of doing

esxcli software install

try

esxcli software vib install -v /full/path/package.vib

Answer 3

copy your VIB into /tmp and retry.