Installing RPM This May take several minutes stuck at 80% (VCSA 6.5)
When you are setting up VCSA 6.5, sometimes the installation process gets stuck at 80%. This can be pretty frustrating! You might even come across errors like timeout during RPM installation or messages in the log files that talk about authentication problems with the guest operating system.
Trouble with VCSA Installation
Imagine you are installing VCSA 6.5, and suddenly, it just halts at 80%. Not only that, but you might also see error messages that say the installation is taking too long or that there is trouble connecting with the system it is being installed on.
The Issue
You are installing VCSA 6.5 appliance and the process is stuck at 80%, or later you get errors such as "A problem occurred during RPM installation: Timeout".
Installer log files are located at:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Temp\vcsaUiInstaller
You may also see the following errors in the logs:
2018-05-20T11:06:54.968Z - debug: Failed to get fileTransferInfo:ServerFaultCode: Failed to authenticate with the guest operating system using the supplied credentials.
2018-05-20T11:06:54.968Z - debug: Failed to get url of file in guest vm:ServerFaultCode: Failed to authenticate with the guest operating system using the supplied credentials.
2018-05-20T11:06:54.968Z - debug: [108]pollRpmInstallProgress:getGuestFileErr:ServerFaultCode: Failed to authenticate with the guest operating system using the supplied credentials.
2018-05-20T11:07:04.601Z - debug: initiateFileTransferFromGuest error: ServerFaultCode: Failed to authenticate with the guest operating system using the supplied credentials.
Solutions
VMware released a KB article to fix this issue:
- VMware KB 51124 — Deploying, upgrading, migrating, or restoring to vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 GA or U1 release fails
- Link: https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/51124
Note: You can find more troubleshooting tips and tricks in the VMware category of this blog.
Dealing with installation issues when setting up something like VCSA 6.5 can be a real headache. Errors at 80% completion or authentication problems might make you feel stuck. But knowing where to look for solutions, like the one provided by VMware, can be a huge relief.
By following their guide, you can tackle these installation hiccups and get your system up and running smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does VCSA 6.5 installation get stuck at 80%?
The installation typically stalls at 80% due to a guest OS authentication failure. The installer cannot authenticate with the deployed appliance to monitor RPM installation progress, which causes a timeout error.
Where can I find the VCSA installer log files?
The installer log files are located at C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Temp\vcsaUiInstaller on the machine where you launched the VCSA installer. These logs contain detailed error messages that help diagnose the issue.
Can I recover a VCSA deployment that is stuck at 80%?
Yes, in many cases the appliance has actually been deployed and is running. You can open the VM console, log in with root and the default password ("vmware"), change the password when prompted, and manually configure the network. The installation may then proceed to stage 2.
Does this issue affect VCSA versions other than 6.5?
This specific RPM timeout issue primarily affects VCSA 6.5 GA and Update 1 releases. Later versions and patches from VMware have addressed this authentication timing issue. Check VMware KB 51124 for the specific affected versions.
How can I prevent this issue from happening?
Ensure your network connectivity between the installer machine and the ESXi host is stable, and verify that DNS resolution is working correctly. Using the latest VCSA 6.5 patch or upgrading to a newer version also helps avoid this issue entirely.