Unable to patch ESXI 7 hosts with error "cannot download VIB" error due to entitlement issues.

Products

• VMware Cloud Foundation
• VMware vSphere ESX 7.x
• VMware vSphere ESX 8.x

Issue/Introduction

When attempting to patch ESXi hosts after recently configuring download token:

• Cannot download VIB: ''. This might be because of network issues or the specified VIB does NOT exist or does NOT have a proper 'read' privilege set. Please make sure the specified VIB exists and is accessible from vCenter Server.

  

• A general system error occurred: Cannot download VIB 'https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/main/esx/vmw/vib20/lpfc/VMW_bootbank_Ipfc_14.4.0.40-35vmw.803.0.70.24674464.vib'. This might be because of network issues or the specified VIB does NOT exist or does NOT have a proper 'read' privilege set. Make sure the specified VIB exists and is accessible from vCenter Server.


Environment

vSphere 7.x
vSphere 8.x

Cause

If the configured authenticated downloads token does not have the correct entitlements for vSphere 7 or vSphere 8, it cannot download the patching software.

 

Reference the KB below to test if the download token is entitled for vSphere 7 and/or vSphere 8 as applicable:

VCF Authenticated Downloads Token Troubleshooting Guide

 

Resolution

• Generate a new download token from the site ID that has the entitlements for the version of vSphere that needs to be patched.
  • Reference: VCF authenticated downloads configuration update instructions
• Configure vCenter to use newly generated token to download vSphere software.
  • Reference: 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
• Retry patching with new download URLs configured.

Additional Information

If the entitlements are configured and working correctly the issue could be due to a metadata mismatch: 
Host Remediation fails with error: Cannot download VIB: ''. This might be because of network issues or the specified VIB does NOT exist or does NOT have a proper 'read' privilege set.