SDDC Manager ESXi Upgrade Fails Validating esx-custom-image-upgrade-spec.json Syntax

Products

• VMware SDDC Manager / VCF Installer

Issue/Introduction

Upgrading an ESXi host from SDDC Manager fails. The failed task displays the following error:

Upgrade - ESX_HOST <ESXi Hostname>

Message: The EsxCustomlmageUpgradeSpec /nfs/vmware/vcf/nfs-mount/esx-custom-image-upgrade-spec.json is not a valid json file.
Remediation Message: The EsxCustomlmageUpgradeSpec /nfs/vmware/vcf/nfs-mount/esx-custom-image-upgrade-spec.json is not a valid json file
Reference Token: <Unique token>
Cause:

 

Environment

VMware Cloud Foundation 5.x

Cause

The /nfs/vmware/vcf/nfs-mount/esx-custom-image-upgrade-spec.json file contains incorrect JSON syntax, such as missing quotation marks around keys and values or missing directory slashes.

Resolution

1. Connect to the SDDC Manager appliance using SSH and switch to the root user.
   
   
2. Create a backup of the existing specification file before making any changes:
   cp /nfs/vmware/vcf/nfs-mount/esx-custom-image-upgrade-spec.json /nfs/vmware/vcf/nfs-mount/esx-custom-image-upgrade-spec.json.bak
   
   
3. Open /nfs/vmware/vcf/nfs-mount/esx-custom-image-upgrade-spec.json in a text editor.
   vi /nfs/vmware/vcf/nfs-mount/esx-custom-image-upgrade-spec.json
   
   
4. Update the JSON file to use the correct syntax. Ensure all keys and string values are enclosed in double quotation marks and that valid absolute paths are provided.
   Example of incorrect syntax:
   
   {
"esxCustomImageSpecList": [{
bundleId <bundle_ID>,
targetEsxVersion 8.0.3-24784735,
useVcfBundle false,
customIsoAbsolutePath nfsvmwarevcfnfs-mountesx-upgrade-partner-binaries80u3fCustom.iso
}]
}
   
   Example of correct syntax:
   
   {
"esxCustomImageSpecList": [{
"bundleId": "<bundle_ID>",
"targetEsxVersion": "8.0.1-########",
"useVcfBundle": false,
"customIsoAbsolutePath": "/nfs/vmware/vcf/nfs-mount/esx-upgrade-partner-binaries/#########################.iso"
}]
}

 

Additional Information

• /nfs/vmware/vcf/nfs-mount/esx-custom-image-upgrade-spec.json template can be found in Upgrade ESXi with Custom ISOs.
• Bundle ID should be for the ESXi Bundle downloaded using SDDC Manager as Custom ISO will not be shown under Bundle Management.
• During the Upgrade SDDC will use the ISO file mentioned in the customIsoAbsolutePath to patch/upgrade ESXi.
• Bundle ID is for referrence only, the actual upgrade/patch will happen using the CUSTOM ISO mentioned in "customIsoAbsolutePath".