Patching VMware vSphere VCSA

VCSA - 6.5

  1. Take a snapshot of VCSA as backup.

  2. Upload the patch ISO endwith -FP.iso.

  3. Edit settings of VCSA and mount the patch ISO.

  4. Open VCSA applicance Management(https://vcsa-ip:5480), login as root.

  5. Update -> Check Update -> Install Avaliable Update.

  6. Accept.

  7. Request reboot to install update.

  8. Reboot VCSA.

  9. Check that the upgrade has been successfully completed and delete the previously taken snapshot.

Patching by Command-line

Mount the patch file ending in -FP.iso to /mnt/iso-contents.

Open SSH session to the VCSA.

Command> software-packages stage –iso –acceptEulas
Command> software-packages list --staged --verbose
Command> software-packages install --staged
Command> reboot -f

Troubleshooting

Issue: Discovering updates...error: rpmdb: BDB0113 Thread/process 2925/140658852136704

Command> software-packages stage --iso

 [2025-11-07 15:41:51,706] : Discovering updates...error: rpmdb: BDB0113 Thread/process 2925/140658852136704 failed: BDB1507 Thread died in Berkeley DB library
error: db5 error(-30973) from dbenv->failchk: BDB0087 DB_RUNRECOVERY: Fatal error, run database recovery
error: cannot open Packages index using db5 -  (-30973)
error: cannot open Packages database in /var/lib/rpm

 [2025-11-07 15:41:52,897] : Latest updates already installed on VCSA, Nothing to stage

Command> shell
Shell access is granted to root

root@localhost [ ~ ]# rpm -qa
error: rpmdb: BDB0113 Thread/process 2925/140658852136704 failed: BDB1507 Thread died in Berkeley DB library
error: db5 error(-30973) from dbenv->failchk: BDB0087 DB_RUNRECOVERY: Fatal error, run database recovery
error: cannot open Packages index using db5 -  (-30973)
error: cannot open Packages database in /var/lib/rpm
error: rpmdb: BDB0113 Thread/process 2925/140658852136704 failed: BDB1507 Thread died in Berkeley DB library
error: db5 error(-30973) from dbenv->failchk: BDB0087 DB_RUNRECOVERY: Fatal error, run database recovery
error: cannot open Packages index using db5 -  (-30973)
error: cannot open Packages database in /var/lib/rpm

Solution:

root@localhost [ ~ ]# rpmdb --rebuilddb

Reference

・ Patching/Updating VMware vCenter Server through Appliance Management Interface VAMI