vCenter Upgrade Fails with Error: "No such file or directory: patching_backup_config.json"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

When attempting to upgrade vCenter Server, the upgrade fails with an error similar to:

[Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/storage/seat/software-update*/stage/update/patching_backup_config.json'

This error typically occurs during the Staging phase of the process and prevents the upgrade from completing successfully.

Environment

• vCenter Server 7.x
• vCenter Server 8.x

Cause

• A previous failed upgrade attempt left the system in an inconsistent state
• Corruption in the RPM database
• Issues with SSL certificates or trusts
• Incorrect VMware Directory (vmdir) Domain Functional Level
• Insufficient storage space
• A checksum mismatch in the downloaded packages or ISO file

Resolution

Option #1 

1. Unstage the patch from the vCenter Server Appliance Management Interface (VAMI) per Check for and Stage Patches to the vCenter Server Appliance.
2. Start the update process again.

Option #2

Note: Take an offline (powered off) snapshot of the vCenter Server virtual machine before proceeding.

1. Access the vCenter Server Appliance via SSH as the root user.
   
   
2. Rebuild the RPM database following the steps in Unable to check updates via VAMI due to "List operation failed, please try again" error.
   
   
3. Restart the applmgmt service:
        service-control --restart applmgmt
   
   
4. Run lsdoctor to address potential SSL and trust issues:
   Follow the steps in Using the 'lsdoctor' Tool to run lsdoctor.py with the "--stalefix" and "--trustfix" options.
   
   
5. Verify and set the correct VMware Directory (vmdir) Domain Functional Level:
   Follow the steps in KB, VMdir enters failure state after upgrading vCenter Server to 8.0 U1.
   
   
6. Check available storage space:
   Follow the vCenter Server Appliance disk space is full to resolve any full storage space issue on the vCenter VM.
   
   
7. Check for certificate issues:
   Follow Using the VCF Diagnostic Tool for vSphere (VDT)
   Replace certificates if indicated.
   
   
8. Clear failed update state and restart services:
   Follow the steps in vCenter patch upgrade fails.
   
   
9. Check for checksum issues:
   Follow the steps in vCenter Server upgrade failure from corrupt ISO