Unable to download SDDC 5.x binaries using the VMware Cloud Foundation Download Tool (VCFDT)

Products

• VMware SDDC Manager

Issue/Introduction

When attempting to download VMware Cloud Foundation 5.x binaries using the VMware Cloud Foundation Download Tool (VCFDT), the process fails with a connection error. Despite providing valid credentials and tokens, the tool is unable to establish a link to the Depot Server.

*********Welcome to VMware Cloud Foundation Download Tool***********

Version: 9.0.0.0100.24880038
Validating depot credentials.
ERROR: Unable to connect to the Depot Server

The output is typically visible in the standard output (stdout) of the terminal session where the tool is executed.

Environment

SDDC Manager 5.2.x

Cause

The VCF Download Tool (VCFDT) version 9.0.x is primarily optimized for newer architectural shifts. While it includes multiple utilities, the standard vcf-download-tool binary command will encounter connectivity or compatibility issues when targeting specific 5.2.x component bundles in certain automated environments.

• For VCF 5.2.x releases, the metadata and bundle structure are specifically designed to be handled by the LCM Bundle Transfer Utility which remains the authoritative tool for downloading 5.x series components.
  
  
• The issue is triggered when the incorrect binary download command is invoked for version 5.2.x: 

./vcf-download-tool binaries download --vcf-version 5.2.2 --automated-install --depot-store <OFFLINE_DEPOT_PATH> --depot-download-token-file <PATH_TO_TOKEN_FILE>

Resolution

To successfully download VCF 5.2.x components, use the lcm-bundle-transfer-util instead of the vcf-download-tool command.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Navigate to the directory where the VCF Download Tool is extracted.

2. Verify you have a valid depot download token saved in a text file (e.g., token.txt).

3. Execute the download using the lcm-bundle-transfer-util with the following syntax:

./lcm-bundle-transfer-util --download --depotDownloadToken <PATH_TO_TOKEN_FILE> -sv <SOURCE_VERSION> -p <TARGET_VERSION> --outputDirectory <PATH_TO_DIRECTORY>

Example: If you are targeting version 5.2.2.0 and your current source version is 5.2.0.0, the command would be:

./lcm-bundle-transfer-util --download --depotDownloadToken <PATH_TO_TOKEN_FILE> -sv 5.2.0.0 -p 5.2.2.0 --outputDirectory <PATH_TO_DIRECTORY>

Monitor the output to ensure the bundles are successfully downloaded to the specified directory.

Additional Information

VMware Cloud Foundation Download Tool 9.0.0.0100 Release Notes