"Check for recommended images" task shows "Cluster is up to date! There are no new recommended cluster images available for this cluster"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• "Check for recommended images" option completes successfully in vLCM, and shows "Cluster is up to date" , even though there are patches available for update

• Clicking on option "View Details" on the information banner(blue banner), its shows "No Recommended images" for any version:

• As per /var/log/vmware/vmware-updatemgr/vum-server/vmware-vum-server.log

YYYY-MM-DDtHH:MM:SS info vmware-vum-server[#####] [Originator@### sub=VumVapi::Utils opID=99853a60-606a-4057-#####-#####] [DepotContentManager 442] GetCachedDepotBaseImage called.^M
YYYY-MM-DDtHH:MM:SS info vmware-vum-server[#####] [Originator@### sub=Clusters::Software::RecommendationsSvc opID=99853a60-606a-4057-#####-#####] [AsyncServiceImpl 409] 9.0.0.0.24755229 version excluded in recommendation^M
YYYY-MM-DDtHH:MM:SS info vmware-vum-server[#####] [Originator@### sub=Clusters::Software::RecommendationsSvc opID=99853a60-606a-4057-#####-#####] [AsyncServiceImpl 435] Result:^M
--> {^M
-->     "base_image_explanation_details": [^M
-->         {^M
-->             "display_name": "ESXi",^M
-->             "display_version": "9.0.0.0.24755229",^M
-->             "explanation": [^M
-->                 {^M
-->                     "args": [],^M
-->                     "default_message": "The software compatibility cannot be determined. It can be either a security patch or an out-of-date compatibility data bundle. Firstly, please ensure the software compatibility data bundle is up-to-date. Please note that no software compatibility checks are performed on security patches.",^M
-->                     "id": "com.vmware.vcIntegrity.lifecycle.recommendations.explanations.SclInteropBundleUpdateRequired",^M
-->                     "localized": null,^M
-->                     "params": null^M
-->                 }^M
-->             ]^M
-->         }^M
-->     ],^M
-->     "check_time": "YYYY-MM-DDtHH:MM:SS",^M
-->     "current_series_recommendation": null,^M
-->     "latest_recommendation": null,^M
-->     "specified_base_image_version_recommendation": null^M
--> }^M
YYYY-MM-DDtHH:MM:SS info vmware-vum-server[#####] [Originator@### sub=VumVapiAsyncTelemetryFilter opID=99853a60-606a-4057-#####-#####] [TelemetryVapiProvider 80] Method com.vmware.esx.settings.clusters.software.recommendations.get succeeded^M

Environment

vCenter Server 9.x

Cause

• While vLCM performs the check against the Broadcom repository to find the available compatible version for the host, it is unable to find the build/image version currently installed on the host and reports is to be "out-of-date" or "securiy patch".
• This can happen, if the build version of the ESXi running in the environment is using a Beta build Image or any other testing build  . This could also be a previously released version which has been taken off from the Broadcom repository due End of Service reasons.

Resolution

• Patch/upgrade the ESXi host to a version which is available in Build numbers and versions of VMware ESXi/ESX
• Broadcom recommends not to use any build that are not part of the GA List, as this could lead to update/upgrade failure via Lifecycle manager.
  • NOTE - Beta build/test builds will not be recognized during the LCM scan.
• In situations where Broadcom has provided a  hot-patch or security patch for specific environment, please ensure that the host is updated/upgraded as per the upgrade path suggested by Broadcom.