"VMDir replication is not working between partners / Vmdir service is not in Normal state", vCenter Server upgrade pre-check fails due to VMDIR in Standalone mode

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• vCenter Server update/upgrade pre-check fails during VMDIR replication status check with below error message
  

  Error VMDir replication is not working between partners.
  
  Resolution
  The state of VMDir is not Normal on vCenter servers - <VC FQDN> (Standalone). Make sure VMDir state is Normal on all the vCenter servers and replication is working before continuing. For vCenter servers with VMDir state as "Read-Only" and "Failure" refer https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/312122 and with VMDir state as “Standalone” refer KB https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/369151.
  
  

• Validating the VMDIR Arguments in Likewise registry shows the value "-m standalone"
  

  /opt/likewise/bin/lwregshell list_values '[HKEY_THIS_MACHINE\Services\vmdir]' | grep "Arguments"

  +  "Arguments"         REG_SZ          "/usr/lib/vmware-vmdir/sbin/vmdird -s -l 0 -f /usr/lib/vmware-vmdir/share/config/vmdirschema.ldif -m standalone"

Environment

• vCenter 8.x
• vCenter 9.x

Cause

VMware Directory Service (vmdird) is in a state that prevents a consistent snapshot, typically due to directory replication lag between ELM nodes.

Resolution

Perform below steps to resolve the issue :

1. Take Powered off snapshot of all the vCenter Servers in the same vSphere Domain
2. Login to the VCSA via SSH
3. Modify the likewise registry to update the value using below command depending on vCenter Server versions, this will remove the "-m standalone" switch:
   
   For any version below 8.0 U3:
   /opt/likewise/bin/lwregshell set_value '[HKEY_THIS_MACHINE\Services\vmdir]' "Arguments" "/usr/lib/vmware-vmdir/sbin/vmdird -s -l 0 -f /usr/lib/vmware-vmdir/share/config/vmdirschema.ldif"
   
   For 8.0 U3 and above versions (including 9.x):
   /opt/likewise/bin/lwregshell set_value '[HKEY_THIS_MACHINE\Services\vmdir]' "Arguments" "/usr/lib/vmware-vmdir/sbin/vmdird -l 0 -f /usr/lib/vmware-vmdir/share/config/vmdirschema.ldif -L /var/log/vmware/vmdird/vmdird.log"
   
   
   
4. Refresh the Likewise registry using below command
   
   /opt/likewise/bin/lwsm refresh
   
   
5. Change VMDIR state to NORMAL
   
   /usr/lib/vmware-vmafd/bin/dir-cli state set --state NORMAL --login administrator --password <password>
   
   
6. Check the VMDIR replication using vdcrepadmin
   
   /usr/lib/vmware-vmdir/bin/vdcrepadmin -f showpartnerstatus -h localhost -u administrator
   
   
7. Continue with the vCenter Server lifecycle operation if the replication status shows "0 changed behind"