Patching error "Test RPM transaction failed . Collect the logs for diagnostics"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

vCenter patching fails with the following UI error messages:

• Test RPM transaction failed. Collect the logs for diagnostic
• Update is not staged
• Update installation failed, list operation is not allowed

The /var/log/vmware/applmgmt/update_microservice.log contains the following:

YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss - ##### -     update_functions:: runCommandAndCheckResult: ## - DEBUG - runCommandAndCheckResult failed: 'error: Failed dependencies:\n\teventlog is obsoleted by (installed) syslog-ng-3.37.1-1.ph3.x86_64\
YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss - ##### -  task_manager_target:: update:  ## - DEBUG - UpdateTask: status=RESUMABLE, progress=40, message={'id': 'com.vmware.appliance.rpm_transaction_failed', 'default_message': 'Test RPM transaction failed. Collect the logs for diagnostics', 'args': []}
YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss - ##### -    update_b2b_target:: installPrechecks:1848 -   DEBUG - Returning, as staging is not completed or failed in between.
YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss - ##### -    update_b2b_target:: install:2345 -           ERROR - Install prechecks phase failed

 

 

Environment

7.0.x, 8.x

Cause

This happens when a patch tries to install an RPM which conflicts with an RPM already installed on the vCenter. This can happen if the customer or a third party tool manually installs the RPMs on vCenter.

Resolution

1. Revert to the pre-upgrade snapshot.
2. Remove the conflicting package from the vCenter using the following command in the BASH shell on vCenter:
   rpm -e syslog-ng-3.37.1-1.ph3.x86_64
3. Re-run the upgrade.