Update Manager could not download virtual appliance upgrade metadata using UMDS repository

[sandsfootgroup]

Hello

We have an error trying to download patch definitions when using a UMDS exported repository.  We have a vSphere 6.5 U1 install that does not have Internet access.  It consists of several ESXi Hosts, vCSA with separate PSC and vROPs.

We use UMDS installed on a separate internet connected server to download HOST and Appliance upgrades.

vmware-umds.exe -v

VMware Update Manager Download Service 6.5.0.40982 Build = 8305924

vmware-umds.exe -G

[standard URLs]

Host patch content download: enabled

Host Versions for which patch content will be dowloaded:

embeddedEsx-6.5.0-INTL

Virtual appliance content download: enabled

So we refresh this on a scheduled task - approx 38GB.  When we want to export the repository, we connect a USB disk (X:) and use the follwoing:

vmware-umds.exe -E --export-store x:\umds

This exports the repository as expected.  The files are then copied to a local IIS server that the vSphere 6.5 cluster has access to.  We have enabled directory browsing and can access the files using http://webserver:8000.  We can see the files as expected.

In Update Manager, in the down Download Setting, we change to Use a shared repository and specify the URL above.  Update Manager validates this.  In the Download Sources pane, when we click Download Now, we can see the Download patch definitions task run but we get an error:

Cannot download patch definitions.

Related events:

Task: Download patch definitions.

Successfully downloded host patch definitions, New patches: 87

vaupgrade/__valm-consolidated-index__.xml

Could not download virtual appliance upgrade metadata for http://webserver:8000/

Could not download virtual appliance upgrade metadata.

So it looks like the host patch definitions are OK, but not the appliance definitions.

Does anyone know why this would be the case?

Many thanks

[sandsfootgroup]

Hello

So does anyone have any ideas what this could be?  At this point we may have to ditch UMDS and just manually import patches etc which seems a shame....

Thanks

[sandsfootgroup · Accepted solution]

Hello

We have resolved the issue - hope this helps anyone else in the same position...

We are using IIS to host the files.  You need to add the different MIME types to the website that is hosting the files.

So on either at the website top-level or vdir (if using) you need to add vib and sig mime type application/octet-stream.

I would suggest an IISRESET to refresh everything.

FYI: This is what we followed originally, but it does not mention MIME types - not sure how to suggest document update?

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.5/com.vmware.vsphere.update_manager.doc/GUID-47CDC301-C4...

Thanks