vCenter Upgrade Error: `Exception Occurred in install precheck phase`
Tags: datacenternetworking, homelab, vmware
Published: 2021-12-04 19:19:56

---
title: vCenter Upgrade Error: `Exception Occurred in install precheck phase`
published: true
date: 2020-12-21 06:33:00 UTC
tags: DatacenterNetworking,HomeLab,VMWare
canonical_url: https://blog.engyak.co/2020/12/vcenter-upgrade-error-exception.html
---

# Error presented by VAMI Interface

[![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Hza2LQWP-s/X-A3vvA9n2I/AAAAAAAABGQ/Xxz1SIv_qw8s-ANnwLfm0bCa2oAA3QdbACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20dec2020-1.PNG)](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Hza2LQWP-s/X-A3vvA9n2I/AAAAAAAABGQ/Xxz1SIv_qw8s-ANnwLfm0bCa2oAA3QdbACLcBGAsYHQ/s417/20dec2020-1.PNG)
  

  

  

## Caveat

This is definitely bypassing some form of pre-check, please contact VMware support if it's on a production system!

## Troubleshooting

_VCSA 7.0 has moved the upgrade process logging to a new location_ - the log itself is now at `/storage/log/vmware/applmgmt/update_microservice.log` (actual) or `/var/log/vmware/applmgmt/update_microservice.log` (symlink)

### `update_microservice`

This appears to be a rough order of operations with this new update process:

- Pre-Checks: First, the upgrade tries to identify the system being upgraded:

```
update_microservice:: precheckEventHandler: 148 - INFO - Precheck event happensupdate_b2b:: precheck: 709 - DEBUG - Running update prechecksupdate_b2b:: b2bRequirements: 479 - DEBUG - Running B2B Requirements hook and processing the resultsupdate_b2b:: _runScriptHook: 330 - DEBUG - Running B2B script with hook CollectRequirementsHookupdate_b2b:: _runScriptHook: 339 - DEBUG - update script output to file /var/log/vmware/applmgmt/upgrade_hook_CollectRequirementsHookextensions:: _findExtension: 83 - DEBUG - Found script hook <module 'update_script' from '/storage/core/software-update/updates/7.0.1.00200/scripts/update_script.py'>:CollectRequirementsHook'update_utils:: isGateway: 83 - DEBUG - Not running on a VMC Gateway appliance.update_utils:: isB2BUpgrade: 72 - DEBUG - Bundle will execute upgrade: Falseupdate_script:: collectRequirements: 492 - DEBUG - Checking verisonsupdate_script:: collectRequirements: 496 - DEBUG - Source VCSA version = 7.0.1.00100update_script:: collectRequirements: 500 - INFO - Target VCSA version = 7.0.1.00200update_utils:: getRPMBlacklist: 185 - DEBUG - vCSA deployment Type: embeddedupdate_b2b:: b2bRequirements: 493 - DEBUG - Getting packages excluding the ones in blacklist
```

From there, it picks up the scope for the upgrade, and verifies against common upgrade issues:

```
update_b2b:: b2bRequirements: 528 - DEBUG - Calculated packages list update_b2b:: checkDisk: 423 - DEBUG - Checking for disk utilizationupdate_b2b:: checkDisk: 467 - DEBUG - CheckDisk completed, returning with selected disk partition /storage/updatemgrupdate_b2b:: precheck: 740 - DEBUG - Estimating time to install..update_b2b:: estimate_time: 679 - DEBUG - Estimating time required for rpm-update, services start-stop and reboot time if its requiredupdate_b2b:: estimate_time: 682 - DEBUG - Calculating RPM installation timeupdate_b2b:: rpm_install_time: 587 - DEBUG - Reading all rpms present in rpm-manifest.jsonupdate_b2b:: rpm_install_time: 588 - DEBUG - Estimating installation time for installed rpms and new rpmsupdate_b2b:: get_installed_rpms_list: 564 - DEBUG - Getting the list of installed RPMs along with the time of installupdate_b2b:: get_installed_rpms_list: 578 - DEBUG - Completed getting the list of rpms, returning with the list: <class 'list'>update_b2b:: rpm_install_time: 610 - DEBUG - Installation time estimated successfully, returning with time for installation 23update_b2b:: estimate_time: 684 - DEBUG - Calculating time to start and stop servicesupdate_b2b:: estimate_time_services: 620 - DEBUG - Estimating time for services-start and services-stopupdate_b2b:: estimate_time_services: 640 - DEBUG - Completed estimating time for starting and stopping services, returning with the required time: 2task_manager:: update: 80 - DEBUG - UpdateTask: status=SUCCEEDED, progress=100, message={'id': 'com.vmware.appliance.update.prechecks_task_ok', 'default_message': 'Prechecks completed', 'args': []}
```

In this case, everything looks good. I'm not really sure why it needs the SSO Administrator password, and there isn't much on-line about this. We're seeing _three_ errors after we hit go time:

```
update_b2b:: resumeStage:3431 - DEBUG - 'download' phase is 100% completed. checkAllRpmsArePresentrpmfunctions:: checkAllRpmsArePresent: 308 - ERROR - Empty Stage location passed. This cannot be empty.update_b2b:: resumeStage:3497 - ERROR - Exception in resume stage. Exception : {Package discrepency error, Cannot resume!}task_manager:: update: 80 - DEBUG - UpdateTask: status=FAILED, progress=0, message={'id': 'com.vmware.appliance.plain_message', 'default_message': '%s', 'args': ['Package discrepency error, Cannot resume!']}dbfunctions:: execute: 81 - DEBUG - Executing {SELECT CASE WHEN count(*) == 0 THEN 0 ELSE 1 END as status FROM progress WHERE _stagekey = 'patch-state' AND _message = 'Stage successful'}functions:: get_resume_state: 340 - DEBUG - Resume needed in Stage phaseupdate_b2b:: install_with_resume:2477 - DEBUG - Installing version 7.0.1.00200update_functions:: readJsonFile: 224 - ERROR - Can't read JSON file /storage/core/software-update/stage/stageDir.json [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/storage/core/software-update/stage/stageDir.json'task_manager:: update: 80 - DEBUG - UpdateTask: status=FAILED, progress=0, message={'id': 'com.vmware.appliance.not_staged', 'default_message': 'The update is not staged', 'args': []}update_b2b:: installPrechecks:2146 - DEBUG - Exception occurred while checking for discrepancies Update not stagedtask_manager:: update: 80 - DEBUG - UpdateTask: status=RESUMABLE, progress=0, message={'id': 'com.vmware.appliance.plain_message', 'default_message': '%s', 'args': ['Exception occurred in install precheck phase']}
```

This is pretty odd, because it's indicating a "resumable error" despite the fact that it cannot resume until a file lock is removed. Here are the errors I see:

- Empty Stage Location: Unsure what this means, given the context. Odds are the upgrade script cannot find out where to stage RPMs (Red Hat Package Manager).
- Package discrepancy error: It could be relating to the above, or it could be a failed checksum. No other logging is generated by the agent to indicate what's wrong.
- `Can't read JSON file /storage/core/software-update/stage/stageDir.json`: This one's more actionable! It looks like there's no directory by this name.

Easter Egg: `statsmoitor` probably should be `statsmonitor`

### Remediation

#### Allow the update to resume

VAMI saves the installation state as a file in `/etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf`:

```
{ "state": "INSTALL_FAILED", "version": "7.0.1.00200", "latest_query_time": "2020-12-21T00:19:32Z", "operation_id": "/storage/core/software-update/install_operation"}
```

VAMI will be stuck in a loop until you remove this file as root:

```
rm -rf /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf
```

This will not necessarily resolve the issue that caused the failure, however, more work still needs to be done.

#### Install via ISO

EDIT: The update ISO can be found at: [https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/patch#search](https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/patch#search)

We're going to try a fallback method, attaching the upgrade ISO. The following snippet is from the vSphere UI, modifying vCenter's VM Hardware:

[![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FrC1T9IjVJM/X-A33ltxoBI/AAAAAAAABGU/Sb-qT_EBGesrdBt9Cfv9uz9FcL7nhWqdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20dec2020-2.png)](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FrC1T9IjVJM/X-A33ltxoBI/AAAAAAAABGU/Sb-qT_EBGesrdBt9Cfv9uz9FcL7nhWqdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s631/20dec2020-2.png)
  

From there, simply click "Check CD-ROM" and it will immediately appear.

This time, we know what directories to search, so I'm going to watch the logs:

```
tail -f /var/log/vmware/applmgmt/update_microservice.log | grep -i err
```

#### Attempt via Command-line with ISO

VMware documents the following method to update via the command line [https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/com.vmware.vcenter.upgrade.doc/GUID-8466F019-C57C-4344-9E15-8CFF74A6E4C2.html](https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/com.vmware.vcenter.upgrade.doc/GUID-8466F019-C57C-4344-9E15-8CFF74A6E4C2.html)

##### Stage Packages

We're going to try and clear the (empty) workspace and try fresh, auto-accepting EULAs:

```
Command> software-packages unstageCommand> software-packages stage --iso --acceptEulas [2020-12-20T17:49:54.355] : ISO mounted successfully [2020-12-20T17:49:54.355] : UpdateInfo: Using product version 7.0.1.00100 and build 17004997 [2020-12-20T17:49:55.355] : Target VCSA version = 7.0.1.00200 [2020-12-20 17:49:55,169] : Running requirements script..... [2020-12-20T17:50:12.355] : Evaluating packages to stage... [2020-12-20T17:50:12.355] : Verifying staging area [2020-12-20T17:50:12.355] : ISO unmounted successfully [2020-12-20T17:50:12.355] : Staging process completed successfully [2020-12-20T17:50:12.355] : Answers for following questions have to be provided to install phase: Question: ID: vmdir.password Text: Single Sign-On administrator password Description: For the first instance of the identity domain, this is the password given to the Administrator account. Otherwise, this is the password of the Administrator account of the replication partner. Allowed values: Default value: [2020-12-20T17:50:12.355] : Execute software-packages validate to validate your input
```

Let's take a look at the update:

```
Command> software-packages list --staged[2020-12-20T17:52:00.355] : category: Bugfix kb: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/rn/vsphere-vcenter-server-70u1c-release-notes.html leaf_services: ['vmware-pod', 'vsphere-ui', 'wcp'] vendor: VMware, Inc. name: VC-7.0U1c tags: [] version_supported: [] size in MB: 5107 releasedate: December 17, 2020 executeurl: https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/get-download?downloadGroup=VC70U1C version: 7.0.1.00200 updateversion: True allowedSourceVersions: [7.0.0.0,] buildnumber: 17327517 rebootrequired: False productname: VMware vCenter Server type: Update summary: {'id': 'patch.summary', 'translatable': 'In-place upgrade for vCenter appliances.', 'localized': 'In-place upgrade for vCenter appliances.'} severity: Critical TPP_ISO: False thirdPartyInstallation: False timeToInstall: 0 requiredDiskSpace: {'/storage/core': 6.286324043273925, '/storage/seat': 228.3861328125} eulaAcceptTime: 2020-12-20 17:50:12 AKST
```

Let's run it!

```
Command> software-packages install --staged [2020-12-20T17:53:52.355] : For the first instance of the identity domain, this is the password given to the Administrator account. Otherwise, this is the password of the Administrator account of the replication partner.Enter Single Sign-On administrator password: [2020-12-20T17:54:02.355] : Validating software update payload [2020-12-20T17:54:02.355] : UpdateInfo: Using product version 7.0.1.00100 and build 17004997 [2020-12-20 17:54:02,095] : Running validate script..... [2020-12-20T17:54:09.355] : Validation successful [2020-12-20 17:54:09,125] : Copying software packages [2020-12-20T17:54:09.355] : ISO mounted successfully166/166 [2020-12-20T17:57:31.355] : ISO unmounted successfully [2020-12-20 17:57:31,238] : Running system-prepare script..... [2020-12-20 17:57:40,289] : Running test transaction .... [2020-12-20 17:57:54,344] : Running prepatch script..... [2020-12-20 18:01:22,731] : Upgrading software packages .... [2020-12-20T18:07:39.355] : Setting appliance version to 7.0.1.00200 build 17327517 [2020-12-20 18:07:39,538] : Running patch script..... [2020-12-20 18:28:42,743] : Starting all services .... [2020-12-20T18:28:46.355] : Services started. [2020-12-20T18:28:46.355] : Installation process completed successfully [2020-12-20T18:28:46.355] : The following warnings have been found:['\tWarning: \n\t\tsummary: Failed to start all services, will retry operation.\n']Command> shutdown reboot -r "patch reboot"
```

Looks like the manual install worked for me - 7.0 U1c

## TL;DR

```
rm -rf /etc/applmgmt/application/software_update_stategrep -i error /var/log/vmware/applmgmt/update_microservice.logexitsoftware-packages unstagesoftware-packages stage --iso --acceptEulassoftware-packages list --stagedsoftware-packages install --stagedshutdown reboot -r "patch reboot"
```