vCenter update status shows as failed with error "Can't read JSON file /storage/core/software-update/install_operation" despite being updated successfully

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

/var/log/vmware/applmgmt - In the software-packages.logs, we see that it is unable to read the JSON file /storage/core/software-update/install_operation"

 

 

YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.Z [15xxx]DEBUG:vmware.appliance.update.update_state:In State._get using state file /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf

YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.Z [15xxx]INFO:vmware.appliance.update.update_state:Found operation in progress /storage/core/software-update/install_operation

YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.Z [15033]ERROR:vmware.appliance.update.update_functions:Can't read JSON file /storage/core/software-update/install_operation [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/storage/core/software-update/install_operation'

YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.Z [15033]DEBUG:vmware.appliance.update.update_state:Operation in progress is orphaned

YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.Z [15033]DEBUG:vmware.appliance.update.update_state:Operation in progress is finished

YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.Z [15033]DEBUG:vmware.appliance.update.update_state:Writing to state file from State._get

YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.Z [15033]DEBUG:vmware.appliance.update.update_state:In State._writeInfo writing to state file /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf

YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.Z [15033]INFO:vmware.vherd.base.software_update:Installation failed. Please collect the VC support bundle.

Environment

vCenter 8.x

Cause

A rare race condition might cause vCenter to report a successful update as failed. The issue occurs if during vCenter reboot , /storage/core unmounts before the system acknowledges the Installation complete status.

As a result, the update fails with an error such as "No such file or directory: /storage/core/software-update/install_operation"

Resolution

The issue has been resolved in VMware vCenter Server 8.0 Update 3g.