Exporting a customized cluster image fails with ExportError (errorCode: 99)

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• When attempting to export a customized vSphere Lifecycle Manager (vLCM) cluster image as an ISO or Offline Bundle (.ZIP) in vCenter 9.0.2, the task fails at a low percentage (e.g., 2%).

• The following error is displayed in the vSphere Client: com.vmware.vcIntegrity.lifecycle.softwarespec.ExportError

• In /var/log/vmware/vmware-updatemgr/vum-server/vmware-vum-server.log, you see entries similar to:

  YYYY-MM-DDT10:51:49.353Z error vmware-vum-server[12544] [Originator@6876 sub=ServiceProvider] [EmbeddedPyServiceProvider 1855] Failed to export depot: --taskid 525579e0-b5d7-0c99-5cef-be2b0b622f97 --threadid 12544 software --export --exportNameHash 52b65790-70d2-ac9f-5b7e-6bf7470663d0 --exportLocation /storage/updatemgr/patch-store-temp --exportFormat OFFLINE_BUNDLE --imageHasManifest {
-->     "image-0": false
--> }
YYYY-MM-DDT10:51:49.353Z error vmware-vum-server[12544] [Originator@6876 sub=VumVapi::Lib::Utils] [ExportTask 94] Failed to export cluster image from depot. errorCode: 99

  -->    reason = "vLCM Task failed, see Error Stack for details."
-->    msg = "{
-->     "data": null,
-->     "error_type": "ERROR",
-->     "messages": [
-->         {
-->             "args": [],
-->             "default_message": "Error occurred while exporting ESXi image and/or image document.",
-->             "id": "com.vmware.vcIntegrity.lifecycle.softwarespec.ExportError"
-->         }
-->     ]
--> }"
--> }

  
  
  

Environment

VMware vSphere 8.x

VMware vSphere 9.x

Cause

This issue occurs when the vCenter Image Service fails to serialize a complex software specification that includes multiple vendor addons or additional components simultaneously. The service encounters a validation or metadata mismatch (errorCode: 99) during the software --export command when these components are bundled in the initial export request.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, use a two-phase export workflow to isolate the software components:

1. Create a new temporary cluster and define a vLCM image using only the base ESXi version (no addons or additional components).
2. Export this base image as an Offline Bundle (.ZIP or ISO). Verify the export completes successfully.
3. Edit the cluster image definition to include the required vendor addons and additional components.
4. Export the modified image again as a .ZIP or ISO. The Image Service should now successfully process the additional components on top of the established base.

Note: Ensure that TCP port 9087 is open between the client workstation and the vCenter Server Appliance, as this port is required for vLCM image downloads in vSphere 8.x and 9.x.