Image-based cluster creation in a newly deployed vCenter Server Appliance fails with error: "No ESXi versions found in the vLCM depot."
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Image-based cluster creation in a newly deployed vCenter Server Appliance fails with error: "No ESXi versions found in the vLCM depot."

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Article ID: 434321

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Updated On:

Products

VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

  • When attempting to create a cluster, the process halts with the following message:
    No ESXi versions found in the vLCM depot. Sync contents to the depot to compose an image, or import the image from a host.



  • Navigating to Menu > Lifecycle Manager > Image Depot in the vCenter Server confirms that the depot is empty.

Environment

vCenter Server Appliance 8.x

Cause

  • When creating an image-based cluster, the vCenter requires a valid base ESXi image to be included in the initial cluster creation payload.
  • The vCenter Server retrieves the available base ESXi versions directly from the local vLCM depot to populate the selection menus.
  • Public facing repository URLs and authentication mechanisms have changed. The download URLs are now unique to each entitlement and require specific token-based authentication.
  • Without this token, the depot remains empty.

Resolution

  1. Obtain the required Broadcom support token from the Broadcom Support Portal by following the KB article below:
    VCF authenticated downloads configuration update instructions 

  2. Update the download source settings by inputting the unique Broadcom token to establish authenticated access referring to the KB article below:
    Error: A general system error occurred: Failed to download VIB(s): Error: HTTP Error Code: 403, vLCM fails to download the ESXi patches and images from online repositories 

  3. Initiate a manual "Sync Updates" task to synchronize the library and populate the vLCM depot with the latest ESXi versions.

  4. Once the synchronization completes successfully, re-attempt the creation of the image-based cluster.

Additional Information

Note: In case the vCenter server is isolated, the resolution steps in the KB article below can be followed to populate the LCM depot with the required image to create a cluster:
Upload the ESXi ZIP file to the Image Depot in the Lifecycle Manager. 

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