Patching vCenter fails with the error "Test RPM transaction failed. Collect the logs for diagnostics"
search cancel

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

book

Article ID: 378466

calendar_today

Updated On:

Products

VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

When updating vCenter in the VAMI, the update/patching will hang and produce the error below


Installation failed
Test RPM transaction failed. Collect the logs for diagnostics

Environment

vCenter 7.0.x

Cause

The issue is caused by a lack of free space in one of the vCenter /storage partitions. For example, /storage/core or /storage/log

The amount of free space can be checked by running the command below in an SSH on the vCenter:

# df -h

 

You can also check the update_microservices.log or PatchRunner.log to identify which /storage partition is full 

update_microservices.log

[YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS] - 36294 -     update_functions::      runCommandAndCheckResult: 373 -    DEBUG - runCommandAndCheckResult failed: '\tinstalling package vmware-e
sx-netdumper-7.0.3.02100-0.0.13975548.i386 needs 4KB on the /storage/core filesystem\n'

[YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS] - 36294 -         task_manager::                        update:  80 -    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-DDTHH:MM:SS] - 36294 -           update_b2b::                    preInstall:2349 -    DEBUG - Returning from preInstall(), failure in preinstall

 

PatchRunner.log

[YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS] - 11761 -        update_script::           collectRequirements: 645 -    DEBUG - Transform patch runner requirements results: {
    "requirements": {
        "requiredDiskSpace": {
            "/storage/core": 22.60932327270508,
            "/storage/seat": 19.084375
        },
        "rpmIgnoreList": [],
        "questions": [],
        "rebootRequired": false
    },
    "patchInfo": {
        "timeToInstall": 0,
        "patchSummary": null
    },
    "mismatches": [
        {
            "text": {
                "id": "patch.rpm.no.storage.install.error.text",
                "translatable": "Insufficient storage space on partition \"%(0)s\".",
                "args": [
                    "/storage/log"
                ],
                "localized": "Insufficient storage space on partition \"/storage/log\"."
            },
            "description": {
                "id": "patch.rpm.no.storage.install.error.description",
                "translatable": "As part of the patch product rpms need to be installed on the system, however this won't be possible due to insufficient storage.",
                "localized": "As part of the patch product rpms need to be installed on the system, however this won't be possible due to insufficient storage."
            },
            "resolution": {
                "id": "patch.rpm.no.storage.install.error.resolution",
                "translatable": "Ensure that on partition \"%(0)s\" there is at least %(1)s MB free.",
                "args": [
                    "/storage/log",
                    "1"
                ],
                "localized": "Ensure that on partition \"/storage/log\" there is at least 1 MB free."
            },
            "problemId": null,
            "severity": "error",
            "relatedUserDataId": null
        }
    ]
}

 

Resolution

To resolve this issue, clear space in the impacted /storage partition by removing old files or dump files that are no longer required.

Example: 

rm vmkernel-zdump.x

Alternatively dumpfile can be moved to an alternate location should they wish to be saved 

mv vmkernel-zdump.x /tmp

 

After clearing space in the impacted /storage partition resume the vCenter upgrade.

Additionally refer the articles below to help identify which partition is full and how to clean up.

https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/318953/