You have reached the maximum number of retries needed to resume the patching. Please restore the vCenter using the backup.

The issue you faced during the vCenter upgrade, including the error "Exception occurred in post-Install Hook", suggests that the software update process became corrupted or stuck. The steps you followed are a solid troubleshooting method to reset the update state and resolve the problem. Below is a clean, structured guide based on your experience:

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Steps to Resolve vCenter Upgrade Failure

Error Message:

vbnet
Installation failed
Exception occurred in post-Install Hook
You have reached the maximum number of retries needed to resume the patching. Please restore the vCenter using the backup.

Solution:

1. Connect to the VCSA Shell:

   • Open an SSH client (e.g., PuTTY) and connect to your vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA).
   • Log in with the root account.
   • If needed, enable the Bash shell:

     shell.set --enabled true
     shell
     

2. Check the Software Update State:

   • Display the current state of the update process:

     cat /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf
     

   • This file contains information about the update process. If it shows an incomplete or stuck state, you need to reset it.

3. Backup the Update State Config:

   • Create a backup of the update state file for safety:

     cp /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf.bak

4. Stop the Management Service:

   • Stop the appliance management service to prepare for the reset:

     service-control --stop applmgmt

5. Delete the Update State Config File:

   • Remove the corrupted update state file:

     rm /etc/applmgmt/appliance/software_update_state.conf

6. Start the Management Service:

   • Restart the appliance management service to allow a fresh start for the update process:

     service-control --start applmgmt

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Additional Notes:

• Install Newer Updates: If the same error recurs, try downloading and installing the latest available update or patch for your vCenter version.
• Validate Backups: Ensure you have a recent backup of the vCenter Appliance before attempting upgrades.
• Logs for Troubleshooting: If issues persist, review logs for more detailed errors:
  • /var/log/vmware/applmgmt/software-packages.log
  • /var/log/vmware/vami/vami.log