vCenter update fails with "The vCenter Server is not able to reach the specified URL. Ensure that the vCenter Server is connected to the internet, the specified URL is correct, and the latest version(s) is available on the VMware online repository."
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vCenter update fails with "The vCenter Server is not able to reach the specified URL. Ensure that the vCenter Server is connected to the internet, the specified URL is correct, and the latest version(s) is available on the VMware online repository."

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Article ID: 390120

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Updated On:

Products

VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

  • vCenter Server patching via VAMI fails to download the updates from Broadcom public repositories.

  • vCenter VAMI (https://<vcenter_server_fqdn_or_IP>:5480) > Update > "Check Updates" tab shows any of following error messages:
    • "The vCenter Server is not able to reach the specified URL. Ensure that the vCenter Server is connected to the internet, the specified URL is correct, and the latest version(s) is available on the VMware online repository. If the issue persists, please contact VMware Support."


    • "Check the URL and try again"

 

    • "Authentication failure. Enter a valid user name and password, and try again."



    • "Network failure. Check the network settings and try again."



  • In addition the Update Planner in vSphere Client (https://<vcenter_fqdn_or_IP>/ui) shows a connection error:
    • "Configured repository is not accessible due to network connectivity or incorrect URL. Verify the repository settings."

  • Error seen from vCenter:
    In vCenter Server 8.x, the same error is seen in the Prechecks tab (vCenter > Updates > Prechecks):

Environment

  • VMware vCenter Server 7.x
  • VMware vCenter Server 8.x
  • VMware vCenter Server 9.x

Cause

  • This issue occurs when vCenter is still configured with the old public facing vmware.com repository URLs.
  • These download URLs are no longer active and are replaced by the new dl.broadcom.com that require specific tokens generated from support portal.

Resolution

Steps to Update vCenter Download URL with Token

  1. Download the Token

    Obtain the token from the Broadcom Support Portal by following the steps in VCF Authenticated Downloads Configuration Update Instructions.

    If the token is already available, proceed with the steps below

    Note: Scripted method to update the URLs are available in the KB Authenticated Download Configuration Update Script.

  2. Manual Update via VAMI

    1. Log in to VC VAMI UI → https://<vcenter_server_fqdn or IP>:5480

    2. Navigate to the Update tab

    3. Click Settings

    4. Use the Default URL and replace it with the Specified URL containing the generated token<downloadToken> as shown below.

      vCenter Server 7.x: 

      From:

      Default:  https://vapp-updates.vmware.com/vai-catalog/valm/vmw/8d167796-34d5-4899-be0a-6daade4005a3/<current_version>.latest

      To:

      Specified: https://dl.broadcom.com/<downloadToken>/PROD/COMP/VCENTER/vmw/8d167796-34d5-4899-be0a-6daade4005a3/<current_version>/

      Example:

      From:

      Default      : https://vapp-updates.vmware.com/vai-catalog/valm/vmw/8d167796-34d5-4899-be0a-6daade4005a3/7.0.3.00800.latest/

      To:

      Specified: https://dl.broadcom.com/<downloadToken>/PROD/COMP/VCENTER/vmw/8d167796-34d5-4899-be0a-6daade4005a3/7.0.3.00800/


      vCenter Server 8.x

                  From:

Default: https://vapp-updates.vmware.com/vai-catalog/valm/vmw/8d167796-34d5-4899-be0a-6daade4005a3/<current_version>.latest

To:

Specified: https://dl.broadcom.com/<downloadToken>/PROD/COMP/VCENTER/vmw/8d167796-34d5-4899-be0a-6daade4005a3/<current_version>/

Example:

From:

Default: https://vapp-updates.vmware.com/vai-catalog/valm/vmw/8d167796-34d5-4899-be0a-6daade4005a3/8.0.3.00400.latest/

To:

Specified: https://dl.broadcom.com/<downloadToken>/PROD/COMP/VCENTER/vmw/8d167796-34d5-4899-be0a-6daade4005a3/8.0.3.00400/

 

vCenter 9.0

From:

Default: https://vapp-updates.vmware.com/vai-catalog/valm/vmw/8d167796-34d5-4899-be0a-6daade4005a3/<current_version>/

To:

Specified: https://dl.broadcom.com/<downloadToken>/PROD/COMP/VCENTER/vmw/8d167796-34d5-4899-be0a-6daade4005a3/<current_version>/

Example:

From:

Default: https://vapp-updates.broadcom.com/vai-catalog/valm/vmw/8d167796-34d5-4899-be0a-6daade4005a3/9.0.0.0/

To:

Specified: https://dl.broadcom.com/<downloadToken>/PROD/COMP/VCENTER/vmw/8d167796-34d5-4899-be0a-6daade4005a3/9.0.0.0/

 

vCenter 9.0.1

From:

Default:
https://dl.broadcom.com/PROD/COMP/VCENTER/vmw/PRODUCT_RID/PRODUCT_VERSION/

To:

Specified:
https://dl.broadcom.com/<downloadToken>/PROD/COMP/VCENTER/vmw/8d167796-34d5-4899-be0a-6daade4005a3/<current_version>/

 

                 Note: Replace <downloadToken> with the actual downloaded token id.

    •  Update the Specified URL field in VAMI and click Save.

    • The entitled releases should now be listed from the updated URL.

 Notes:

  • Migration / Restore / Failover

    The custom URL is not preserved after migration upgrade, FBBR restore and VCHA failover.

  • Network / Proxy

    If a proxy device exists between vCenter and the internet, ensure it allows communication to the new URL.

  • Patching

    Further patches automatically update the default URL.

    Example: upgrading from 8.0.3.00400 → 8.0.3.00500 updates the URL to end in 8.0.3.00500.

    • When a custom/specified URL with token is saved in VAMI, CLI patching will not pick this URL.

    1. On 7.x VCSA:

      Specified URL used : https://dl.broadcom.com/<downloadToken>/PROD/COMP/VCENTER/vmw/8d167796-34d5-4899-be0a-6daade4005a3/7.0.3.02200

      1. If the Specified URL is set in VAMI UI but not reflected in the config file /etc/applmgmt/appliance/update.conf and running update.get still points to the vapp-updates Default URL,

        • Use update.set from appliancesh to set the Specified URL as a workaround.

        • Without setting the Specified URL, stage/install will continue to use the Default URL.

      2. Another observation: If the source vCenter Server is 7.0 Update 2 or earlier, and the Specified URL is https://dl.broadcom.com/<downloadToken>/PROD/COMP/VCENTER/vmw/8d167796-34d5-4899-be0a-6daade4005a3/7.0.3.02200, the vCenter Server upgrades to 7.0.3.02200 instead of 7.0.3.02300.

        • To work around this, set the Specified URL manually using update.set in appliancesh.

Additional Information

https://dl.broadcom.com/<downloadToken>/PROD/COMP/VCENTER/vmw/88d167796-34d5-4899-be0a-6daade4005a3/8.0.3.00500/package-pool/patch-metadata-scripts.zip

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