vCenter staging fails. with Error in method invocation timeout happens while waiting for task out file to appear

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

vCenter staging fails with Error in method invocation timeout happens while waiting for task out file to appear

Environment

vCenter server 8.x

Cause

The patching workflow failed during the staging phase because the required configuration file, stage_operation, was renamed within the /storage/core/software-updates directory. Consequently, the patching task was unable to locate the necessary configuration file, resulting in a 'File not found' error during the staging operation.

Resolution

• SSH to the vCenter Server appliance
• Rename the incorrect file to the correct file name "stage_operation" 
  
  
• Stop the appliance management service: service-control --stop applmgmt
  
  
• Remove the update files:
  rm -rf /storage/core/software-update/updates/*
rm -rf /storage/core/software-update/stage/*
rm -rf /storage/db/patching.db
  
  
• Move the staged configuration files:
  mv /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf /storage/core
  
  
• Restart the appliance management service: service-control --start applmgmt
  
  
• Initiate a fresh staging of the vCenter patch