Unable to patch vCenter server from VAMI, check updates shows "The CD drive does not have a valid patch ISO or has an unsupported version"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• As per the Patching/Updating VMware vCenter Server Appliance VCSA through Appliance Management Interface VAMI after mounting the ISO file as a CD-ROM and doing CHECK UPDATES (Option 2, Step 6) there are no valid updates seen.
• Unable to map the ISO for the VCenter VM
• Encountered error similar to below when checking for updates from the iso on VAMI

• The following entries could be observed in the below logs :
  
  /var/log/vmware/applmgmt/software-packages.log

  <timestamps> [1700264]DEBUG:vmware.appliance.update.update_b2b:discoverLocalUpdate failed. No manifests found
  <timestamps> [1700264]ERROR:vmware.appliance.update.update_b2b:Got Exception during discover updates {messages : [{'id': 'com.vmware.appliance.update_error', 'default_message': '%s', 'args': ['The CD drive does not have a valid patch ISO or has an unsupported version']}], data : None, error_type : NOT_FOUND} :
  <timestamps> [1700264]INFO:vmware.appliance.update.update_pending:No updates found
  <timestamps> [1700264]INFO:vmware.vherd.base.software_update:The CD drive does not have a valid patch ISO or has an unsupported version

  
  /var/log/vmware/applmgmt/applmgmt.log

  <timestamps> [8997]DEBUG:vmware.appliance.update.update_b2b:discoverLocalUpdate failed. No manifests found
  <timestamps> [8997]ERROR:vmware.appliance.update.update_b2b:Got Exception during discover updates {messages : [{'id': 'com.vmware.appliance.update_error', 'default_message': '%s', 'args': ['The CD drive does not have a valid patch ISO or has an unsupported version']}], data : None, error_type : NOT_FOUND} :

   

• The following error is observed from the command line.:
  

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 7.x , 8.x

Cause

Possible causes are:

• The CD-ROM is not in a connected state
• A previous ISO was mounted, and not ejected before mounting the patch ISO
• The install ISO was mounted instead of the patch ISO. 
• An outdated (lower) version of the vCenter Server patch, which is lower than both the required target version and the currently installed vCenter Server version, was uploaded to the datastore

Resolution

 

• Open an SSH session to the vCenter Server VM and execute the command eject /dev/cdrom to release the currently mounted ISO.

• In the vSphere Client, right-click the vCenter Server VM, select Edit Settings, detach the current ISO, and attach the correct patch ISO. Ensure the filename ends with -FP.iso and the device is showing as Connected.

• Proceed with the patch update via VAMI or CLI.

• If mounting the ISO directly from the ESXi Web Console or vCenter Client fails, power OFF the vCenter Server VM.

• Right-click the VM, select Edit Settings, remove the CD/DVD drive entirely, and click Save.

• Edit the VM settings again, select Add New Device, choose CD/DVD Drive, and mount the correct vCenter Patch ISO (-FP.iso).

• Power ON the vCenter Server VM.

• Log in to the VAMI, navigate to the Update tab, and select Check Updates > Check CD ROM. The patch ISO should now display as available to stage or install.