Error: Upgrade precheck failed or Product mismatch during VMware Live Recovery upgrade

Products

• VMware Live Recovery

Issue/Introduction

When attempting an in-place upgrade of VMware Live Recovery (VLR) from version 9.0.4.x to 9.0.5 or VCF Protection and Recovery 9.1, the following symptoms may occur:

• The VAMI update engine reports: Operation Failed Product mismatch, update source is 'VMware Live Recovery Appliance'.
• The upgrade precheck fails with: Failed to install update: Upgrade precheck failed. Kernel linux-6.1.147-3.ph5.x86_64 has known issue. Please check release notes for more information.
• The appliance upgrade hangs or displays a console error: watchdog : BUG: soft lockup.

Environment

• VMware Cloud Foundation 9.x
• VMware Live Recovery 9.0.4 / 9.0.5
• VMware Live Recovery Add-on Appliance
• VCF Protection and Recovery 9.1
• Photon OS 5

Cause

1. Media Mismatch: Attaching a standard VMware Live Recovery ISO to an Add-on appliance architecture triggers a signature mismatch in the VAMI ledger.
2. Kernel Defect: Linux kernel versions v6.1.147-1.ph5 to 6.1.147-6.ph5 contain an inherent upstream infinite loop defect. The installer precheck blocks these versions to prevent system hangs.

Resolution

Pre-requisites:

• Take a snapshot of the VLR and vCenter Server appliances on both Protected and Recovery sites.
• Ensure the VLR appliances have internet access or download the RPM manually.

Steps to remediate:

1. Verify the correct ISO is mounted. Use the Add-on Appliance ISO for nodes provisioned with that architecture.
2. Enable SSH on the VLR appliance.
3. SSH to the appliance as admin and run su - to become root.
4. Download the patched kernel: wget https://packages.broadcom.com/photon/5.0/photon_5.0_x86_64/x86_64/linux-6.1.158-7.ph5.x86_64.rpm
5. Install the RPM: rpm -Uvh linux-6.1.158-7.ph5.x86_64.rpm
6. Reboot the appliance: reboot
7. Resume the in-place upgrade from the VAMI interface.