vCenter Upgrade Pre-Check Failed With Error "Source vCenter Server schema validation found an issue"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vCenter Server 8.0

Issue/Introduction

When upgrading vCenter Server, the error message "Source vCenter Server schema validation found an issue" appears when the Stage 2 pre-check fails. 

 

In /var/log/vmware/upgrade/vcdb_req.err errors related to extra DB tables being present in the source vCenter's DB exist such as the example below:  

1 [P0001](1) ERROR: ERROR ! Extra tables or columns: vpx_event_arg_12_temp.alarm_id,vpx_event_arg_12_temp.arg_data,vpx_event_arg_12_temp.arg_id,vpx_event_arg_12_temp.arg_type,vpx_event_arg_12_temp.computeresource_id,vpx_event_arg_12_temp.datacenter_id,vpx_event_arg_12_temp.datastore_id,vpx_event_arg_12_temp.dvs_id,vpx_event_arg_12_temp.event_id,vpx_event_arg_12_temp.folder_id,vpx_event_arg_12_temp.host_id,vpx_event_arg_12_temp.network_id,vpx_event_arg_12_temp.network_type,vpx_event_arg_12_temp.obj_name,vpx_event_arg_12_temp.obj_type,vpx_event_arg_12_temp.resourcepool_id,vpx_event_arg_12_temp.scheduledtask_id,vpx_event_arg_12_temp.vm_id;

Cause

An extra table exists within the source vCenter's Postgresql DB that is not expected. 

 

Resolution

Remove the table(s) from the DB. 

1. Review /var/log/vmware/upgrade/vcdb_req.err to determine what table(s) are being highlighted as the problem. 
2. If a powered-off snapshot or backup of the source vCenter was not taken before the upgrade was performed, be sure to do this. If you have one already, skip this step. 
3. Turn off the VPXD service on the source vCenter
   • service-control --stop vmware-vpxd
4. Enter into the VCDB
   • /opt/vmware/vpostgres/current/bin/psql -d VCDB -U postgres
5. Drop the tables from the VCDB
   • DROP TABLE IF EXISTS <TABLE_NAME>;
     • Example: DROP TABLE IF EXISTS vpx_event_arg_12_temp;
6. Turn VPXD back on
   • service-control --start vmware-vpxd
7. Retry upgrade