"An error occured while performing the task Failed to connect to depot at https://<URL>/main/vmw-depot-index.xml" imagebuilder fails to download the patches from online repositories in Autodeploy enabled environments

Products

• VMware vCenter Server 7.0
• VMware vCenter Server 8.0

Issue/Introduction

• On vSphere Client, selecting "Check for updates" button under Autodeploy -> Software Depots tab fails with below error message :
  
  An error occured while performing the task Failed to connect to depot at https://<URL>/main/vmw-depot-index.xml
  
  
• Exporting the image profile using PowerCLI fails with error message :
  
  
  PS C:\> Export-EsxImageProfile -ExportToIso -ImageProfile  ESXi-8.0U1-21495797-standard  -FilePath "C:\<export_path>\ESXi-8.0U1-21495797-standard.iso"
  
  
  Export-EsxImageProfile : Unable to download from any URLs: ('https://<token>/PROD/COMP/ESX_HOST/main/esx/vmw/vib20/native-misc-drivers/VMware_bootbank_native-misc-drivers_8.0.1-0.0.21495797.vib', 'C:\\<appdata_temp_location>\\vib20\\native-misc-drivers\\VMware_bootbank_native-misc-drivers_8.0.1-0.0.21495797.vib', 'HTTP Error 403: Forbidden')
  At line:1 char:1
  + Export-EsxImageProfile -ExportToIso -ImageProfile  ESXi-8.0U1-2149579 ...
  + ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (:) [Export-EsxImageProfile], FaultException
      + FullyQualifiedErrorId : System.ServiceModel.FaultException,VMware.ImageBuilder.Commands.ExportProfile
  
  Note: "ESXi-8.0U1-21495797" is used in above snippets as an example, similar error can happen for any builds.
• Exporting the image profile using the ImageBuilder UI fails with below errors :
  
  
  An error occured while performing the task (imagebuilder.fault.InvalidFormat) { dynamicType = <unset>, dynamicProperty = (vmodl.DynamicProperty) [], msg = 'Bad VIB archive header', faultCause = <unset>, faultMessage = (vmodl.LocalizableMessage) [ (vmodl.LocalizableMessage) { dynamicType = <unset>, dynamicProperty = (vmodl.DynamicProperty) [], key = '', arg = (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) [], message = 'Bad VIB archive header' } ], errorCode = 0, errorMessage = (vmodl.LocalizableMessage) { dynamicType = <unset>, dynamicProperty = (vmodl.DynamicProperty) [], key = '', arg = (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) [], message = 'Bad VIB archive header' }, additionalData = (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) [] }

Cause

Public facing repository URLs and authentication mechanisms are changing. Download URLs are no longer common but unique for each customer therefore will require to be re-configured.

Resolution

1. Download the Token from Broadcom Support Portal by following the steps in VCF Authenticated downloads Configuration Update Instructions. If you already have it, apply the same by following below instructions.
2. Select the online depot from software depot list and click on REMOVE.
   
   
   
   
3. Click NEW and add following Online Depots
   
   https://dl.broadcom.com/<Download Token>/PROD/COMP/ESX_HOST/main/vmw-depot-index.xml
https://dl.broadcom.com/<Download Token>/PROD/COMP/ESX_HOST/addon-main/vmw-depot-index.xml
https://dl.broadcom.com/<Download Token>/PROD/COMP/ESX_HOST/iovp-main/vmw-depot-index.xml
https://dl.broadcom.com/<Download Token>/PROD/COMP/ESX_HOST/vmtools-main/vmw-depot-index.xml

Note: Replace the <Download Token> with the downloaded token from Step 1
   
   Click New
   
   
   Add Online depot: