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The vCenter upgrade from 7.x to 8.x fails at Stage 2 with errors indicating time synchronization could not be set up with NTP. Upgrade fails at 50% in stage 2 when the task copies data from source vCenter server to target vCenter server when upgrading vCenter server 7.0.x to 8.0.x. It encounters a problem while applying network configuration. Upgrade could not set up time synchronization. Verify that provided NTP servers are valid. Failed to set the time using NTP: Details: Failed to sync to NTP servers. Code: com.vmware.applmgmt.err_ntp_sync_failed Verify that provided NTP servers are valid. /var/log/vmware/upgrade/bootstrap.log 2025-07-14T02:37:45.223Z Command executed successfully. 2025-07-14T02:37:45.223Z Getting value for install-parameter: appliance.ntp.servers 2025-07-14T02:37:45.224Z setting time sync to ntp 2025-07-14T02:38:19.083Z ERROR: Failed 1/3 times. Exception: Failed to sync to NTP servers.. Code: com.vmware.applmgmt.err_ntp_sync_failed 2025-07-14T02:38:34.092Z setting time sync to ntp 2025-07-14T02:39:07.966Z ERROR: Failed 2/3 times. Exception: Failed to sync to NTP servers.. Code: com.vmware.applmgmt.err_ntp_sync_failed 2025-07-14T02:39:22.978Z setting time sync to ntp 2025-07-14T02:39:56.806Z ERROR: Failed 3/3 times. Exception: Failed to sync to NTP servers.. Code: com.vmware.applmgmt.err_ntp_sync_failed 2025-07-14T02:39:56.806Z ERROR: setnet failed : { "detail": [ { "id": "install.setnet.set.timesync.ntp", "translatable": "Failed to set the time via NTP. Details: %(0)s", "args": [ "Failed to sync to NTP servers.. Code: com.vmware.applmgmt.err_ntp_sync_failed" ], "localized": "Failed to set the time via NTP. Details: Failed to sync to NTP servers.. Code: com.vmware.applmgmt.err_ntp_sync_failed" }, { "id": "install.setnet.set.timesync", "translatable": "Could not set up time synchronization.", "localized": "Could not set up time synchronization." } ], /var/log/vmware/upgrade/setnet_status.json jq . setnet_status.json { "progress": 0, "progress_message": null, "status": "error", "info": [], "warning": [], "question": null, "error": { "detail": [ { "id": "install.setnet.set.timesync.ntp", "translatable": "Failed to set the time via NTP. Details: %(0)s", "args": [ "Failed to sync to NTP servers.. Code: com.vmware.applmgmt.err_ntp_sync_failed" ], "localized": "Failed to set the time via NTP. Details: Failed to sync to NTP servers.. Code: com.vmware.applmgmt.err_ntp_sync_failed" }, { "id": "install.setnet.set.timesync", "translatable": "Could not set up time synchronization.", "localized": "Could not set up time synchronization." } ], "componentKey": "setnet", "problemId": null, "resolution": { "id": "install.setnet.set.timesync.ntp.res", "translatable": "Verify that provided ntp servers are valid.", "localized": "Verify that provided ntp servers are valid." } }, "start_time": null, "end_time": null } Note: The time sync was successfully completed if adding the iburst option at server entry /etc/ntp.conf and starting ntpd service. Even if the iburst option is added to the source vCenter’s ntp.conf , it is not reflected on the target vCenter.
This is likely due to one of the following: One or more NTP servers are not responding correctly over NTP protocol. There is a connectivity issue between the vCenter IP address or temporary IP address and the NTP server.
Revert VM snapshot at VxRail manager VM and vCenter VM. In the source appliance, login to the vCenter Management Interface (VAMI) , select Time from the left menu, then configure to use Host and not NTP or Disabled. Power off the source appliance, login to the ESXi Host Client , edit Settings of the VM, then under VM Options > VMware Tools , select Synchronize Time with Host . This means that the vCenter periodically synchronizes its time with the host. After powering the source vCenter, retry the upgrade by uploading the upgrade composite. After the upgrade is complete and the NTP issues have been resolved, reconfigure back new vCenter to use NTP again. See Broadcom article ID 381796 for more information: vCenter Upgrade Fails in Stage 2 due to inability to configure NTP on target appliance
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