"Error copying packages", vCenter updates using online repositories fails if updates are attempted with the token which does not have entitlement for the specific vCenter Server version

Products

• VMware vCenter Server 7.0
• VMware vCenter Server 8.0

Issue/Introduction

• vCenter Server patching fails with any of the following error message after updating the Token by following the steps in KB VCF Authenticated downloads Configuration Update Instructions:
  
  Error copying packages:



Update is not staged:



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



Error in method invocation Timeout happens while sending message to microservice:
  
  
   

Cause

This issue is caused if the token does not have the entitlement for the specific vCenter Server version selected or if the token is expired.

Resolution

Cleanup the update state with the below steps and retry the update with a valid token:

1. Delete the patching db:
   
   rm /storage/db/patching.db
   
   
2. Check if the file: /storage/core/software-update/stage/stageDir.json is present, and check its content - 
   
   cat /storage/core/software-update/stage/stageDir.json
   
   
3. If above file is present, it would give a stagedir location something similar to "/storage/<subdir>/software-updatexxxx". If so, delete this folder and files with command:
   
   rm -rf /storage/<subdir>/software-updatexxxx
rm -rf /storage/core/software-update/stage/stageDir.json
   
   
4. Clean up the state file
   
   rm /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf
   
   
5. Configure valid token based on the entitlement -  VCF Authenticated downloads Configuration Update
6. Retry the vCenter Server patching