Error: "Error in method invocation Timeout happens while waiting for task to terminate" when attempting to update vCenter
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Error: "Error in method invocation Timeout happens while waiting for task to terminate" when attempting to update vCenter

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Article ID: 453830

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Updated On:

Products

VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

  • The vCenter update process may time out during or immediately after it performs the pre-update check. This behavior can continue each time the user selects Next, as the same validation process is triggered again.
  • The following messages may be seen repeating in the vCenter /var/log/vmware/applmgmt/applmgmt.log. Although the entries may appear to repeat or be stuck in a loop, the process is actually checking and validating the vCenter backup history as part of the update verification.

  • 2026-08-03T18:26:05 PM CEST [289333]DEBUG:vmware.appliance.update.update_functions:Exception happens while waiting for task to terminate: TypeError("'NoneType' object is not subscriptable")  



2026-08-03T18:27:27 PM CEST [289333]DEBUG:root:Validated user privileges in localstore or SSO                                                                                                                            
2026-08-03T18:27:27 PM CEST [289333]DEBUG:vmware.appliance.update.update_state:In State._get using state file /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf                                                         
2026-08-03T18:27:27 PM CEST [289333]INFO:backupRestoreAPI:Backup details for task 20260726-150009-24853646 : defaultdict(<function ConfigManager.defaultFactory at 0x7f483cb717e0>, {'startTS': '2026-07-26T15:00:09.629Z', 'endTS': '2026-07-26T15:05:02.695Z', 'state': 'SUCCEEDED', 'jobType': 'SCHEDULED', 'operation': 'BACKUP', 'progress': 100, 'message': [], 'location': 'sftp://#.#.#.#/home/vcenter/vCenter/<vCenter FDQN>/S_8.0.3.00600_20260726-150009_', 'locationUser': '<example backup username>', 'backupSize': 6737788898, 'duration': 293, 'id': '20260726-150009-24853646', 'reconciliationNeeded': defaultdict(<function ConfigManager.defaultFactory at 0x7f483cb717e0>, {}), 'product': 'VC-8.0U3g', 'version': '8.0.3.00600', 'build': '24853646', 'fastBackup': True, 'parts': ['seat', 'common']})                                                                                                                   
2026-08-03T18:27:27 PM CEST [289333]INFO:vmware.appliance.vapi.auth:Authorization request for service_id: com.vmware.appliance.recovery.backup.job, operation_id: get                                                    
2026-08-03T18:27:27 PM CEST [289333]DEBUG:vmware.appliance.extensions.authorization.authorization_sso:Required privileges = ['ModifyConfiguration']                                                                      
2026-08-03T18:27:27 PM CEST [289333]DEBUG:vmware.appliance.extensions.authorization.authorization_sso:User=vsphere.local\vpxd-extension-7e0820be-f8d9-499a-9bd4-######, groups={'vsphere.local\\ActAsUsers', 'vsphere.local\\SystemConfiguration.Administrators', 'vsphere.local\\AnalyticsService.Administrators', 'vsphere.local\\LicenseService.Administrators', 'vsphere.local\\ComponentManager.Administrators', 'vsphere.local\\vStatsGroup', 'vsphere.local\\Users', 'vsphere.local\\ServiceProviderUsers', 'vsphere.local\\Everyone', 'vsphere.local\\SolutionUsers'}          
2026-08-03T18:27:27 PM CEST [289333]DEBUG:root:Validated user privileges in localstore or SSO                                                                                                                            
2026-08-03T18:27:27 PM CEST [289333]DEBUG:vmware.appliance.update.update_state:In State._get using state file /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf                                                         
2026-08-03T18:27:27 PM CEST [289333]INFO:backupRestoreAPI:Backup details for task 20260725-150008-24853646 : defaultdict(<function ConfigManager.defaultFactory at 0x7f483cb717e0>, {'startTS': '2026-07-25T15:00:08.650Z', 'endTS': '2026-07-25T15:05:08.106Z', 'state': 'SUCCEEDED', 'jobType': 'SCHEDULED', 'operation': 'BACKUP', 'progress': 100, 'message': [], 'location': 'sftp://#.#.#.#/home//vCenter/<vCenter FDQN>/S_8.0.3.00600_20260725-150008_', 'locationUser': '<example backup username>', 'backupSize': 6737144605, 'duration': 300, 'id': '20260725-150008-24853646', 'reconciliationNeeded': defaultdict(<function ConfigManager.defaultFactory at 0x7f483cb717e0>, {}), 'product': 'VC-8.0U3g', 'version': '8.0.3.00600', 'build': '24853646', 'fastBackup': True, 'parts': ['seat', 'common']})                                                                                                                   
2026-08-03T18:27:27 PM CEST [289333]INFO:vmware.appliance.vapi.auth:Authorization request for service_id: com.vmware.appliance.recovery.backup.job, operation_id: get                                                    
2026-08-03T18:27:27 PM CEST [289333]DEBUG:vmware.appliance.extensions.authorization.authorization_sso:Required privileges = ['ModifyConfiguration']                                                                      
2026-08-03T18:27:27 PM CEST [289333]DEBUG:vmware.appliance.extensions.authorization.authorization_sso:User=vsphere.local\vpxd-extension-7e0820be-f8d9-499a-9bd4-######, groups={'vsphere.local\\ActAsUsers', 'vsphere.local\\SystemConfiguration.Administrators', 'vsphere.local\\AnalyticsService.Administrators', 'vsphere.local\\LicenseService.Administrators', 'vsphere.local\\ComponentManager.Administrators', 'vsphere.local\\vStatsGroup', 'vsphere.local\\Users', 'vsphere.local\\ServiceProviderUsers', 'vsphere.local\\Everyone', 'vsphere.local\\SolutionUsers'}

Environment

vCenter 8.0.3.01000

Cause

This occurs because the pre-check includes a verification of the vCenter backup history. If there is a large amount of backup history to review, the verification process may continue beyond the time allotted for that portion of the pre-check, which can result in a timeout even though the backup history validation is still processing.

Resolution

It is recommended to clear the existing backup job history by either moving or deleting the backup-history.json file. Moving the file is generally preferred, as it preserves a copy in case it is needed later. 

To move the backup-history.json:

  1. SSH to the VCSA via root

  2. Change directories into the backup restore folder

    cd /storage/applmgmt/backup_restore/

  3. Move the backup-history.json file to root

    mv backup-history.json ~

  4. Restart the appliance management service

    service-control --restart applmgmt

  5. Reattempt the vCenter update. It may be needed to fully exit the existing wizard and start a new.
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