vCenter patch upgrade fails

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Possible errors:

• Exception occurred in postInstallHook
• You have reached maximum number of retries to resume the patching. Please restore the vcenter using the backup. 

Environment

7.x, 8.x

Cause

Post patch failure, the appliance state is INSTALL_FAILED in  the /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf file: 

{
    "state": "INSTALL_FAILED",
    "version": "7.0.3.02200",
    "latest_query_time": "YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ",
    "operation_id": "/storage/core/software-update/stage_install_operation"
}

Resolution

Note: Ensure a valid backup of the vCenter Server and a snapshot exists before proceeding.

1. Take a snapshot of the vCenter Server

2. SSH into the vCenter Server appliance

3. Create a backup copy of the /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf file  and move it into a different location, e.g. in /storage/core:
   # cp /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf /storage/core/software_update_state.conf

4. Stop the VAMI service:
   # service-control --stop applmgmt

5. Remove the /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf file:
   # rm -i /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf

6. Change into the /var/log/vmware/upgrade directory:
   # cd /var/log/vmware/upgrade

7. Confirm the following files exist:
   prechecks-succeeded
export-succeeded
import-succeeded

8. If the files do not exist, run the following commands:
   # touch prechecks-succeeded
# touch export-succeeded
# touch import-succeeded

9. Confirm the files have been created:
   # ls -l   

10. Start the VAMI service:
    # service-control --start applmgmt

11. Attempt the patch upgrade again.