vLCM Remediation Fails with [Errno 17] File exists Error During Staging on ESXi Hosts

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi
• VMware vCenter Server 8.0

Issue/Introduction

During the staging phase of an ESXi host remediation using vSphere Lifecycle Manager (vLCM), the process fails, preventing the upgrade from completing.

The vSphere Client reports the following error: A general system error occurred: Remediation failed for Host '<esxi_host_fqdn>'

The /var/run/log/lifecycle.log file on the affected host records the following critical errors:

esximage.Errors.InstallationError: Failed to create ramdisk vibdownload: [Errno 17] File exists: '/tmp/vibdownload'
VibChecksumError: INT_bootbank_icen_2.2.2.0-1OEM.800.1.0.20613240
[Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/usr/lib/vmware/lifecycle/stagebootbank/boot.cfg'

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0x
vCenter Server 8.0x

Cause

The root cause is corrupted or incomplete vLCM staging metadata within the vCenter Server repository. This inconsistency causes the vLCM staging engine to reference an incorrect or stale image profile. Consequently, the engine fails to correctly synthesize the required boot.cfg file and validate VIB checksums, leading to file system errors during the staging process.

Resolution

To resolve this staging conflict, update the vLCM cluster image with a validated image specification.

Prerequisites

• Take a snapshot of the vCenter Server.

Steps

1. Access the vSphere Client.
2. Navigate to Hosts and Clusters > [Select Cluster] > Updates > Image.
3. Import or apply the validated image specification JSON file directly to the cluster image configuration.
4. Perform a compliance check and an inventory sync to reconcile the vLCM database with the cluster image definition.
5. Re-initiate the remediation task.