VMware Tools Update Fails via vSphere Lifecycle Manager with Error VMware vSphere Lifecycle Manager had an unknown error: /usr/sbin/esxupdate returned with exit status: 15

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Unable to remediate ESXi hosts with new VMware Tools update.

/var/log/vmware/vmware-updatemgr/vum-server/vmware-vum-server.log reports "Error: /usr/sbin/esxupdate returned with exit status: 15".

<YYYY-MM-DD>T<time> info vmware-vum-server[25670] [Originator@6876 sub=VciRemediateTask.RemediateTask{7}] [vciTaskBase 1372] SerializeToVimFault fault:
 (integrity.fault.VcIntegrityFault) {
    faultCause = (vmodl.MethodFault) null, 
    faultMessage = <unset>
    msg = "Install error on host: <host_fqdn>, error details: Platform Configuration Error: /usr/sbin/esxupdate returned with exit status: 15"
 }
 Converted fault:
 (vim.fault.ExtendedFault) {
    faultCause = (vmodl.MethodFault) null, 
    faultMessage = <unset>, 
    faultTypeId = "com.vmware.vcIntegrity.VcIntegrityFault", 
    data = (vim.KeyValue) [
       (vim.KeyValue) {
          key = "faultCause", 
          value = ""
       }, 
       (vim.KeyValue) {
          key = "faultMessage", 
          value = ""
       }
    ]
    msg = "Install error on host: <host_fqdn>, error details: Platform Configuration Error: /usr/sbin/esxupdate returned with exit status: 15"
 }

/var/run/log/hostd.log on ESXi reports "cannot remove old files".

<YYYY-MM-DD>T<time> info hostd[2101619] [Originator@6876 sub=Hostsvc.VmkVprobSource] VmkVprobSource::Post event: (vim.event.EventEx) {
    key = 93,
    chainId = -1,
    createdTime = "YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ",
    userName = "",
    host = (vim.event.HostEventArgument) {
       name = "VM-NAME",
       host = 'vim.HostSystem:ha-host'
    },
    eventTypeId = "esx.problem.esximage.install.stage.error",
    arguments = (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) [
       (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) {
          key = "1",
          value = "Image-Profile"
       },
       (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) {
          key = "2",
          value = "VMware_locker_tools-light_12.5.2.24697584-24705409: Error untarring to /locker/packages/, return code: 1
 stdout: b''
 stderr: b"tar: can't remove old file vmtoolsRepo/vmtools/windows.iso: Device or resource busy\n""
       }
    ],
    objectId = "ha-host",
    objectType = "vim.HostSystem",
 }
<YYYY-MM-DD>T<time> info hostd[2101619] [Originator@6876 sub=Vimsvc.ha-eventmgr] Event 1138353 : Could not stage image profile 'Image-Profile': VMware_locker_tools-light_12.5.2.24697584-24705409: Error untarring to /locker/packages/, return code: 1
 stdout: b''
 stderr: b"tar: can't remove old file vmtoolsRepo/vmtools/windows.iso: Device or resource busy\n"

 

Environment

• VMware vSphere ESXi 8.x
• VMware vSphere ESXi 7.x

Cause

The old packages available in ESXi locker/packages/vmtoolsRepo/vmtools are removed and replaced with the newer packages as a part of the VMTools remediation.

The ESXi host will fails to delete the older packages if they are locked by VMs i.e. currently in use.

Resolution

Follow the below steps for resolution.

• The error message "Device or Resource Busy" indicates 'windows.iso' is still in use. It can be mounted on a VM. Hence, the ESXi host is unable to delete the package.
• The VM using the ISO can be identified during the pre-check remediation for the VMware Tools.

• Click on VM > Edit Settings

 

• Unmount the ISO from the VM and re-try remediation.