Upgrading vCenter Server Appliance from 6.0 to 6.5 results in an error: "Unable to detect appliance type"
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Article ID: 301314
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Updated On:
Products
VMware vCenter Server
Issue/Introduction
Symptoms:
Upgrading a vCenter Server Appliance from 6.0 to 6.5, after clicking 'Next' at the Deploy Appliance stage, an error is produced stating:
vCenter 5.5 SSO Appliance?
psc-fqdn.corp.com
Unable to detect appliance type. If this is a vCenter 5.5 SSO appliance, to proceed with the upgrade click Yes. Otherwise, click No to go back to the previous screen.
As this is not a 5.5 Single Sign-On appliance, No is selected and you are returned to the Deploy Appliance screen.
Environment
VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.5.x VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.0.x
Cause
This issue occurs due to root password's expiry date on the Platform Services Controller.
Resolution
To resolve this issue, change the root password of the PSC, and correct any issues seen with the password expiry (such as if it is in the past).
Open the VAMI of the Platform Services Controller in a browser - https://psc-fqdn.corp.com:5480
Login using the root account.
Navigate to the Administration tab.
Change the root password.
Choose not to have an expiry date for the appliance, or correct the date to be a time not in the past (e.g: Jan 1 1970 -> Jan 1 2020)
Run the upgrade once more.
The upgrade process should now complete without issue.