"Cannot download software packages from patch source. Check the events and the Update Manager log for download details" error when remediating the ESXi host using vSphere Lifecycle Manager

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

 

• Modifying the ESXi host using vSphere Lifecycle Manager fails.
• You see the errors:

Cannot download VIB files from patch source. Check the Update Manager log for download details
or 
Cannot download software packages from patch source

 

 

Important: If this issue relates to a failed upgrade of ESXi7.0U2, please see KB "Cannot download VIB" error upgrading to ESXi 7.0 Update 2 using vLCM
 

 

Environment

vSphere Lifecycle Manager all versions

Cause

This issue occurs if there are invalid entries in the vSphere Lifecycle Manager Database or if the host is unable to retrieve the updates from the patch repository. 

Resolution

To resolve this issue, use one of these options to reset update manager database:

• Reinitialize the VMware vCenter Update Manager database. For more information, see Initializing the VMware vCenter Update Manager database without reinstalling it (2043170).
• Reset the Update Manager Database and Patch Store on a vCenter Server Appliance. For more information, see Resetting VMware Update Manager Database in vCenter Server Appliance 6.5/6.7/7.0/8.0.

Note: Ensure to take a valid backup and/or snapshot of the vCenter Server Appliance, custom configuration on Update Manager will be lost after resetting the database.

 Follow the guidelines of "vCenter Server Appliance Data Integrity Best Practices".

• You should also review the following KB to ensure the required ports are open between the nodes. VMware vCenter Update Manager network port requirements (1004543).

Note: If the issue still exists after trying above steps, file a support request with VMware Support and note this Knowledge Base article ID (64995) in the problem description. For more information, see Creating and managing Broadcom support cases.