Update of vCenter fails with "Stage path file doesn't exist" or "Package discrepency error, Cannot resume!"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• The update of vCenter fails with error "Stage path file doesn't exist" or "Package discrepency error, Cannot resume!"
• Update fails when using ISO and via URL
• The error seen when patching via CLI is:

Command> software-packages stage --url --acceptEulas
[YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS,356] : Discovering updates...
[YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS,534] : UpdateInfo: Using product version 7.0.x.00000 and build #####
[YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS,534] : Target VCSA version = 7.0.x.#####
[YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS,000] : Stage path file doesn't exist
[YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS,006] : Staging failed. Retry to resume from the current state. Or please collect the VC support bundle.

• In the vCenter Appliance Management (VAMI) you will see:

"Package discrepency error, Cannot resume!"

Environment

• vCenter 7.x
• vCenter 8.x

Resolution

Note: If the default shell was changed to /bin/bash, use /bin/appliancesh to enter the Appliance-Shell.
Note: Ensure to have a working backup before attempting to update vCenter. 

Follow the steps below

1. Login to vCenter via SSH.
2. Run following command:

software-packages unstage

3. Start the update process again.
   
   
   

If the above steps do not resolve follow the below steps
Important: Ensure to have proper backup or offline snapshot before applying the below steps:

Login to vCenter via SSH and run below commands

• service-control --stop applmgmt
• rm -rf /storage/core/software-update/updates/*
• rm -rf /storage/core/software-update/stage/*
• rm -rf /storage/db/patching.db
• mv /storage/core/software-packages/staged-configuration.json /storage/core
• mv /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf /storage/core
• service-control --start applmgmt
  
  Below command also can be helpful in some scenarios, if it uses /storage/seat partition to store the software-update:
  rm -rf /storage/seat/software-*

Additional Information

Steps to collect VC support bundle from command line or VAMI