Upgrading the ESX/ESXi host using vCenter Update Manager fails with error: Unknown Error

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Cannot upgrade the ESX/ESXi host using vCenter Update Manager
• Upgrading the ESX/ESXi host using Update Manager fails
• You see the error:

Unknown Error

• In the vmware-vum-server-log4cpp.log, located at C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\Update Manager or C:\Users\All Users\VMware\VMware Update Manager\Logs, you see an error similar to:

SingleHostRemediate: Install error on host

details:vim.fault.NoHost

Update-manager-host-upgrade-fails update-manager-fails-remediation

Environment

VMware vCenter Update Manager 4.1.x
VMware vCenter Server 4.1.x

Resolution

This issue may occur if there is an unresponsive virtual machine in the ESX/ESXi host that you are trying remediate. During an upgrade, Update Manager requires all virtual machines to be powered off. It cannot perform the upgrade when the status of a virtual machine cannot be determined. This issue may also occur if there is an invalid or inaccessible virtual machine in the inventory.

To resolve this issue, when you find an unresponsive virtual machine in the Tasks and Events tab, unregister the virtual machine and remove it from the inventory.

For more information, see:

• Troubleshooting a virtual machine that appears as invalid (1002367)
• Update Manager fails with error: There are errors during the remediation operation (1014525)

Additional Information

If you are unable to see the unresponsive virtual machine, you may have to connect directly to the affected ESX/ESXi host or remove the ESX/ESXi host that has the virtual machine from the inventory on your vCenter Server. Alternatively, you can also unregister the virtual machine by connecting directly to the ESX/ESXi host using the vSphere Client. If the issue persists you can remove all Virtual Machines from inventory on the host that are powered off regardless of being unresponsive or orphaned.