Update Manager 4.1 failing to download patch definitions

[Massimo1980]

I'm using vCenter 4.1, running on Windows Server 2008 R2 (x64). Everything is running fine, both vCenter and the Update Manager are up and running and can succesfully talk to their databases (SQL Server 2008 R2 running on the same machine); DSNs are ok.

The server is behind a NAT router, but it doesn't do any traffic control; all outbound ports are open. Web browsing works, and the VMware website can be accessed; no proxy is in use or required.

The problem: everytime vCenter Update Manager tries to download patch definitions, it fails. I've configured it to download ESX 4 and ESX 3 patches, but both task fails. The download URLs were preconfigured in UM, and they are as follows:

https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/index.xml

https://www.vmware.com/PatchManagementSystem/patchmanagement

Both URLs work when typed in a web browser on the server.

The only error I get is a laconic "Could not download host patch packages" in the vCenter events; no further details are given. This has been going on for more than a month, so I think I can safely exclude some transient problem on VMware update repositories.

Any help is really appreciated.

[a_p_]

Did you already take a look at the VUM logs? They are located in C:\Users\All Users\VMware\VMware Update Manager\Logs

see http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1003693

André

[Massimo1980]

I've found them, but I'm unable to find the actual problem... can you please have a look at them?

[gekko]

Seems like the packages VUM is trying to download is not even available. :

Try to surf to this which i extracted from your logfile..

http://download3.vmware.com/software/alpinebeta/release-0046-20080310/ESX350-200802301-BG.zip

- Kenth

[gekko]

Which patch download sources do you have configured?

You can check this under Update Manger Administration and the tab "configuration"..

Or if you you can check them in the "vci-integrity.xml" file located under /program files/VMware/Infrastructure/Update Manger/

There are a couple of entries, ours look like this :

<ESX3xUpdateUrl>https://www.vmware.com/PatchManagementSystem/patchmanagement</ESX3xUpdateUrl>
<ESX4xUpdateUrl>https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/index.xml</ESX4xUpdateUrl>
<ESXThirdPartyUpdateUrl>https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/csco-main-index.xml</ESXThirdPartyUpdateUrl>

- Kenth

[Massimo1980]

I ended up uninstalling Update Manager, deleting the database and re-installing everything from scratch.

Now it works...

[mjadmin]

I was experiencing the same exact issue after upgrading vcenter and VCupdatemanager from 4.0 to 4.1.  I simply removed the ESX3x patch location from the download patch source and all download patch tasks work

[Fidiniaina]

I had the same issue and removing the ESX3x patch sources helped!

Thx for the hint!

[Likruger]

How did you delete the database?

I am having the same problem, i have uninstalled the update manager, now how do i delete the database?

[Gkeerthy]

If you are using MSSQL you can delete the DB by using windows tool called microsoft sql management studio, you need to install in the server where the DB resides.