Vpxd firstboot error KeyError: 'AutoUpdateUser

Products

• VMware SDDC Manager

Issue/Introduction

Upgrading the vCenter from 6.X to 7.X, and 7.X to 8.X can fail with a vpxd firstboot error.
 

Environment

VVF and SDDC 
Upgardes from  6.X to 7.X, and 7.X to 8.X. 

Cause

Upgrade from 7.X to 8.X 

# cd /var/log/firstboot
# less -i vpxd_firstboot.py_TBD_stdout.log

DATETHH:MM:SS.MSZ  Setting sso group permissions.
DATETHH:MM:SS.MSZ  Exception: Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/vmware-vpx/firstboot/vpxd_firstboot.py", line 1068, in Main
vpxd_fb.register_with_cm()       # FB, SB
File "/usr/lib/vmware-vpx/firstboot/vpxd_firstboot.py", line 785, in register_with_cm
self.register_vpxd_with_cm()
File "/usr/lib/vmware-vpx/firstboot/vpxd_firstboot.py", line 753, in register_vpxd_with_cm
svc_info = cloudvm_sso_cm_register(keystore, svc_descr_file, self.get_soluser_name(),
File "/usr/lib/vmware-cm/bin/cloudvmcisreg.py", line 728, in cloudvm_sso_cm_register
serviceId = do_lsauthz_operation(cisreg_opts_dict)
File "/usr/lib/vmware/site-packages/cis/cisreglib.py", line 1240, in do_lsauthz_operation
authz_client.set_permission(domain_name,
File "/usr/lib/vmware/site-packages/cis/cisreglib.py", line 748, in set_permission
ac = self.create_access_control(principal, rolenames,
File "/usr/lib/vmware/site-packages/cis/cisreglib.py", line 728, in create_access_control
role_ids.append(role_objs_dict[rolename])
KeyError: 'AutoUpdateUser'

Previous scenarios 6.7 to 7.X

# cd /var/log/firstboot
# less -i vpxd_firstboot.py_TBD_stdout.log

DATETHH:MM:SS.MSZ  Setting sso group permissions.
DATETHH:MM:SS.MSZ Exception: Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/vmware-vpx/firstboot/vpxd_firstboot.py", line 1154, in Main
vpxd_fb.register_with_cm()       # FB, SB
File "/usr/lib/vmware-vpx/firstboot/vpxd_firstboot.py", line 755, in register_with_cm
self.register_vpxd_with_cm()
File "/usr/lib/vmware-vpx/firstboot/vpxd_firstboot.py", line 724, in register_vpxd_with_cm
dynVars = svc_spec_props, regOp = op)
File "/usr/lib/vmware-cm/bin/cloudvmcisreg.py", line 710, in cloudvm_sso_cm_register
serviceId = do_lsauthz_operation(cisreg_opts_dict)
File "/usr/lib/vmware/site-packages/cis/cisreglib.py", line 1161, in do_lsauthz_operation
True)
File "/usr/lib/vmware/site-packages/cis/cisreglib.py", line 704, in set_permission
self._authz_service)
File "/usr/lib/vmware/site-packages/cis/cisreglib.py", line 683, in create_access_control
role_ids.append(role_objs_dict[rolename])
KeyError: 'AutoUpdateUser'

AutoUpdate user is a hardcoded, "case sensitive" data set in the firstboot python resource files.
Renaming said role, will trigger an VPXD first boot error.
Upgrade need to be reattempted, it can't be resolved/ fixed from a firstboot state 

Resolution

If the user has been renamed [obfuscated]-[name]-[convention]-autoupdateuser, or any other variation, then follow these steps

A. Click on the role in error 
B. Click on "Edit"
C. This will open the first wizard to edit the permissions, the name etc
D. Change the role name to exactly as "AutoUpdateUser" and click Finish
5. Perform upgrade [same scenario for Perform upgrade from 6.7 to 7.X, and upgrade from 7.x to 8.X]