Using ESXCLI to upgrade/update a host generates an error, "Error: MemoryError or Got no data from process"

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

While using esxcli commands to upgrade/update a host, one of the following errors may appear:

[MemoryError]
Please refer to the log file for more details.

Or

Got no data from process.
Command "LANG=en_US.UTF-8 /usr/lib/vmware/esxcli-software sources.profile.list -d "https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/main/vmw-depot-index.xml" "
еxited with error code: 1

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 8.x

Cause

ESXCLI commands run with a fixed amount of memory. The VMware patch repository has grown larger with every release, resulting in increased memory consumption.

Resolution

Broadcom is aware of this issue and is working to resolve it in a future release.

Workaround:

• Update/upgrade via vCenter Server.
• Point ESXCLI directly to the local ESXi Offline bundle ZIP file instead of using the VMware online patch repository.
  Upgrading Hosts by Using ESXCLI Commands