vSphere Replication & Site Recovery Manager - Failed to install update

Products

• VMware Live Recovery

Issue/Introduction

You cannot upgrade vSphere Replication Appliance. 

ERROR
Operation Failed
Failed to install update.
Operation ID: df34f8b5-c6df-4268-984e-93e60e05da82
6/14/24, 10:07:22 AM -0400

The Appliance reboots after hitting the error above and displays this message, pressing keys to continue doesn't boot into the appliance eventually requiring you to revert the snapshot.  



Upgrade from VR 8.7.0.4, 23166598 > 9.0.0.1, 23690274 fails with this error 
Upgrade from VR 8.7.0.4, 23166598 > 8.8.0.3, 23263438 fails with this error

/opt/vmware/var/log/vami/updatecli.log:

09/07/2021 15:46:23 [INFO] Starting Install
09/07/2021 15:46:23 [INFO] Update status: Starting Install
09/07/2021 15:46:23 [INFO] Update status: Running pre-install scripts
.
.
.
14/06/2024 14:07:21 [ERROR] Failed with exit code 62720
14/06/2024 14:07:21 [INFO] Update status: Running post-install scripts
14/06/2024 14:07:21 [INFO] Running /opt/vmware/var/lib/vami/update/data/job/2/post_install '8.7.0.15882' '9.0.0.16198' 4
+ exec
14/06/2024 14:07:21 [INFO] Update status: Done post-install scripts
14/06/2024 14:07:21 [INFO] Update status: Running VMware tools reconfiguration
14/06/2024 14:07:21 [INFO] Running /opt/vmware/share/vami/vami_reconfigure_tools 
vmware-toolbox-cmd is /bin/vmware-toolbox-cmd
vmtoolsd wrapper not required on this VM with systemd.
14/06/2024 14:07:21 [INFO] Update status: Done VMware tools reconfiguration
14/06/2024 14:07:21 [INFO] Update status: Error while running package installation
14/06/2024 14:07:21 [ERROR] Failure: updatecli exiting abnormally
14/06/2024 14:07:21 [INFO] Install Finished

/opt/vmware/var/log/vami/vami.log: 

14/06/2024 14:06:26 [INFO] Reboot required when installing linux package
14/06/2024 14:06:26 [INFO] Created reboot required file
14/06/2024 14:06:26 [INFO] Update 9.0.0.16198 manifest is set to be installed
14/06/2024 14:06:26 [INFO] Using update post-install script
14/06/2024 14:06:26 [INFO] Reloading new configuration. file=/opt/vmware/var/lib/vami/update/provider/provider-deploy.xml
14/06/2024 14:06:26 [ERROR] failed to load file /opt/vmware/var/lib/vami/update/provider/provider-deploy.xml (Error document empty.)
14/06/2024 14:06:26 [ERROR] Unable to reload configuration file: /opt/vmware/var/lib/vami/update/provider/provider-deploy.xml
14/06/2024 14:06:26 [INFO] Running updatecli to install updates. command={ /opt/vmware/share/vami/update/updatecli '/opt/vmware/var/lib/vami/update/data/job/2' '8.7.0.15882' '9.0.0.16198' ;  mv /opt/vmware/var/lib/vami/update/data/update_progress.json /opt/vmware/var/lib/vami/update/data/.update_progress.json ;  } >> /opt/vmware/var/log/vami/updatecli.log 2>&1 &
14/06/2024 14:06:27 [INFO] Installation running in the background
14/06/2024 14:07:21 [INFO] Reloading new configuration. file=/opt/vmware/var/lib/vami/update/provider/provider-deploy.xml
14/06/2024 14:07:21 [ERROR] failed to load file /opt/vmware/var/lib/vami/update/provider/provider-deploy.xml (Error document empty.)
14/06/2024 14:07:21 [ERROR] Unable to reload configuration file: /opt/vmware/var/lib/vami/update/provider/provider-deploy.xml

Environment

vSphere Replication
VMware Live Site Recovery

Resolution

 

ALERT: This issue has been fixed in the release 9.0.2.1

vSphere Replication 9.0.2.1 | 04 DEC 2024 | Build 24404698
VMware Live Site Recovery 9.0.2.1 | 04 DEC 2024 | Build 24401766

Perform a step upgrade (This is a workaround to upgrade to the 9.x version). The upgrade path below is for vSphere Replication; follow the same upgrade path for SRM. 

1. Take a snapshot 

2. Upgrade from 8.7.0.4, 23166598 > vSphere Replication 8.8.0.3, 23263438 & reconfigure the appliance

3. Take another snapshot 

4. Upgrade from 8.8.0.3, 23263438 > vSphere Replication 9.0, 23464962 & reconfigure the appliance 

5. Take another snapshot 

6. Follow this KB to upgrade from 9.0 > 9.0.2 - VLSR - Unknown error 243 while upgrading SRM or VRMS appliances to 9.0.x 

NOTE: Always attach an ISO image after taking a snapshot and remove it before taking a snapshot to avoid getting into difficult lock releasing situations by the VM.