Update to VMware vCenter Server 7.0u3s Fails With Error "Installation of one or more RPMs failed"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Patching the vCenter Server to 7.0U3s failed with the error "Installation of one or more RPMs failed"
  
  
• The following error is seen in the update_microservice.log:

         Log path: /var/log/vmware/applmgmt/update_microservice.log

     YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS,952 - 31360 - functions::runCommand:71 - ERROR - Exception:
     Return code: [1], Stdout:

     /usr/sbin/groupadd -f -g 59010 vcdbusers
     /usr/bin/getent passwd vpxd

     /usr/sbin/usermod.bk -a -G vcdbusers vpxd
     usermod.bk: cannot open /etc/shadow

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 7.0.3

Cause

usermod.bk command failed because the /etc/shadow file contains an unexpected attribute, preventing modification of user group membership.

Resolution

In this scenario, usermod.bk command failed because the /etc/shadow file had the immutable (i) attribute set, preventing modifications.

Remove the immutable attribute, which restores the file to its default state (e only), allowing the command to execute successfully and the vCenter to be patched.

 

• Below is the command to list and remove the additional attributes:
  lsattr /etc/shadow → -----i--------e----- /etc/shadow (i indicates the file is immutable)
  
  
• To remove the immutable attribute:
  sudo chattr -i /etc/shadow


• Validate it after removal
  lsattr /etc/shadow → --------------e----- /etc/shadow (only e attribute remains)

Note:
Attribute 'i'(immutable) prevents any changes to the file.