Importing a vCenter VCSA ISO or Update Bundle file into Lifecycle Manager results in an "unexpected error" or "unknown error" message

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

While attempting to import a vCenter VCSA ISO file or Update Bundle file into Lifecycle Manager, one of the following error messages is received:

• VMware vSphere Lifecycle Manager had an unknown error. Check the events and log files for details.
• An unexpected error has occurred.

Environment

• vSphere 8.x

Cause

Files such as the following that are used for deploying a new vCenter, upgrading a vCenter, or updating/patching a vCenter are not intended to be imported into Lifecycle Manager.

• VMware-VCSA-all-8.0.3-24022515.iso
• VMware-vCenter-Server-Appliance-8.0.3.00000-24022515-updaterepo.zip
• VMware-vCenter-Server-Appliance-8.0.3.00600-24853646-patch-FP.iso
• VMware-vCenter-Server-Appliance-8.0.3.00600-24853646-updaterepo.zip

 

Lifecycle Manager is used for managing the lifecycle of vSphere components, however it is not used for deploying, updating or upgrading a vCenter.

Resolution

In order to patch/update a vCenter to a later build of 8.x, use the steps detailed in KB article 316584:

• Patching/Updating VMware vCenter Server through Appliance Management Interface VAMI

In order to upgrade a vCenter from 7.x to 8.x, use the steps detailed in KB article 372863:

• Upgrade vCenter Server 7.0 to 8.0