An example method of managing a lifecycle of virtualization software in a host is described. The method includes: obtaining, by an initiator in a current version of the virtualization software, a software installation bundle (SIB) from an image repository for a target version of the virtualization software, the SIB including a patcher; verifying, by the initiator, authenticity of the SIB; mounting at least one payload of the SIB in a root filesystem of the virtualization software, and initiating, by the initiator, the patcher in the at least one payload as mounted to perform at least one check operation.