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 on VAMI page, there are no valid updates seen. Additionally the below error might be encountered:
  
  The CD drive does not have a valid patch ISO or has an unsupported version

• Entries similar to below are observed in vCenter logs :
  
  /var/log/vmware/applmgmt/software-packages.log

  YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss DEBUG:vmware.appliance.update.update_b2b:discoverLocalUpdate failed. No manifests found
  YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss 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} :
  YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss INFO:vmware.appliance.update.update_pending:No updates found
  YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss 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

  YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss [####]DEBUG:vmware.appliance.update.update_b2b:discoverLocalUpdate failed. No manifests found
  YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss [####]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} :

   

• Attempting to stage the ISO from vCenter CLI might fail with entries similar to below:
  
  

  Command> software-packages stage -- iso -- acceptEulas

  [YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss, ####] : Discovering updates ...
[YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss, ####] : The CD drive does not have a valid patch Iso or has an unsupported version

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• An outdated (lower) version of the vCenter Server patch, which is lower than both the required target version and the currently installed vCenter Server version, was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
• The patch ISO mounted is corrupted 

Resolution

1. Open an SSH session to the vCenter Server VM and execute the command eject /dev/cdrom to release the currently mounted ISO.
   
   
2. Download the desired vCenter patch iso from Broadcom support portal

3. 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.

4. Proceed with the patch update via VAMI or CLI.

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

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

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

8. Power ON the vCenter Server VM.

9. 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.

Additional Information

For instructions to download vCenter patches, refer to Download vCenter Server patches and ISOs for latest releases