Error: "Fatal: password authentication failed for user postgres" upgrading vCenter Server 6.5 during pre-check
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Error: "Fatal: password authentication failed for user postgres" upgrading vCenter Server 6.5 during pre-check

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Article ID: 315294

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Updated On: 06-13-2025

Products

VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

You see the below symptoms when vCenter Server is configured to use the embedded vPostgres database.

  • Upgrade of vCenter to 6.5 fails during pre-check with message:
Please ensure extensions are compatible with the new vCenter Server and re-register extensions with the new vCenter Server after upgrade.

Please refer to the vSphere documentation on extensions, and the upgrade and interoperability guides.Error: Error while reading data from the vCenter Server database: psql: FATAL: password authentication failed for user "postgres"

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 6.5.x

Cause

This issue occurs due to incorrect password information for postgres user in the %appdata%\postgresql\pgpass.conf file.

Resolution

  1. Rename or move the pgpass.conf file
  2. Run the pre-upgrade check again