netdata/health/guides/vcsa/vcsa_software_updates_health.md

Understand the alert

The vcsa_software_updates_health alert monitors the software updates availability status for a VMware vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA). The alert can have different statuses depending on the software updates state, with critical indicating that security updates are available.

Troubleshoot the alert

Follow these troubleshooting steps according to the alert status:

1. Critical (security updates available):

   • Access the vCenter Server Appliance Management Interface (VAMI) by browsing to https://<vcsa-address>:5480.
   • Log in with the appropriate user credentials (typically root user).
   • Click on the Update menu item.
   • Review the available patches and updates, especially those related to security.
   • Click Stage and Install to download and install the security updates.
   • Monitor the progress of the update installation and, if needed, address any issues that might occur during the process.

2. Warning (error retrieving information on software updates):

   • Access the vCenter Server Appliance Management Interface (VAMI) by browsing to https://<vcsa-address>:5480.
   • Log in with the appropriate user credentials (typically root user).
   • Click on the Update menu item.
   • Check for any error messages in the Update section.
   • Ensure that the VCSA has access to the internet and can reach the VMware update repositories.
   • Verify that there are no issues with the system time or SSL certificates.
   • If the issue persists, consider searching for relevant information in the VMware Knowledge Base or contacting VMware Support.

3. Clear (no updates available, non-security updates available, or unknown status):

   • No immediate action is required. However, it's a good practice to periodically check for updates to ensure the VMware vCenter Server Appliance remains up-to-date and secure.

Useful resources

1. VMware vCenter Server Appliance Management
2. VMware Knowledge Base