The Deployer Service Management Port is a management communication channel used by Veeam to remotely deploy, upgrade, and manage components on protected infrastructure. It is part of the initial handshake process that enables Veeam to install or update services on repository or proxy hosts. In this article, we shall discuss “Failed to Upgrade VIHR Component: Failed to open deployer Service Management Port’. Please see how to upgrade Veeam One from v12 to v13, how to Integrate Trellix ePolicy Orchestrator with a Syslog Server, and Veeam Backup and Replication: PowerShell must be Remote Signed.
Before proceeding to resolve this issue, we will have to discuss what the Veeam Infrastructure Hardened Repository (VIHR) is. It is a secure, Linux-based immutable backup repository designed to protect backups from modification or deletion. It enforces hardened security principles such as immutability etc., to reduce the risk of ransomware or unauthorized changes.
Note: To resolving this specific issue as it applies to me is understanding what changed in your environment and not immediately applying generic fixes to the error message. It is very easy to fall into the pattern of:
- Checking ports first
- Assuming firewall issues
- Disabling SSH and connecting to VIHR to troubleshoot etc.
- Re-running deployment tasks repeatedly
But none of these steps would have resolved this issue because the underlying dependency, the running host was missing. More on this below as we discuss the reason for failure of the deployment service.
Please see How to Repair a Corrupt SQL Server Database Without Data Loss, Azure Application Gateway: Practical Configuration Guide, and Azure Managing Subscriptions with PowerShell: From Login-AzAccount to Resource Control and Private Endpoint Verification for Azure File Share”.
Reason for Failure
At first glance, this looks like a networking or firewall issue. The instinct is usually to start checking ports, SSH access, transport services, or firewall rules. That’s the “standard troubleshooting path” most of us default to.
But in real-world operations, that approach can sometimes miss the actual root cause entirely. In this case, the issue wasn’t a port, a service, or a misconfiguration. The VIHR VM was simply powered off.
As a result, the Veeam Infrastructure Hardened Repository was unable to be upgraded as shown below.
During the upgrade process, Veeam attempts to establish a management channel to the repository host via the deployer service. This is a required step before any component updates can be pushed or validated.
When the host is unreachable because it is not running, the failure surfaces as: “Failed to open deployer Service Management Port” as shown below.
However, the message is misleading as nothing is actually wrong with the port. What has changed is the state of the environment:
- The VM hosting the VIHR was shut down (In a production environment, it is not recommended to host VIHR in a VM as it can be deleted and you will no longer benefit from the immutable protection of your backups.).
- Therefore no SSH/service endpoint existed
- As a result, the deployer handshake never began
Please see The Backup Was Safe: The Data Center Was not: A Real-World Lesson About Hidden Data Center Risks and Governance Failures, and Enterprise Tape Library Administration: Control Path, Firmware, Media Management and Tape Operations.
Verify Server or VM
As discussed above, when the VIHR (Veeam Infrastructure Hardened Repository) is powered off. Veeam attempts to reach the Deployer / Service Management port during a component upgrade. It fails immediately because there is literally nothing listening on the target side. Thereby prompting the error : Failed to open deployer Service Management Port.
Note: XCP-ng serves as a fully integrated virtualization platform that requires no deep Linux or System administration expertise. You can manage it centrally through XO Lite, or Xen Orchestra XO(A) whether you run one host or thousands. To learn more above Xen-Orchestra, XO LITE, Xen-Orchestra Appliance and XCP-ng etc. Please see A-Z of XCP-ng and Xen Orchestra setup and VM Creation.
To fix this, we will navigate to hypervisor host VIHR. In this case as you can see, we cannot use the XOA as this is also shut down. We just have to use the XO to connect and start these VMs that have been tuned off in my lab environment.
Initiate a connection to XO Lite connection web interface as shown below.
I have just one host, I will select the VM as shown below.
I will use the drop down icon to change the state of the VM by clicking on “Start”.
Wait a few seconds for status to change to Running.
Please see how to Assign a Public IP to Azure Virtual Machine (VM), how to Upgrade Veeam ONE to 13.0.2.6723 to Address Security Fixes, and how to Fix Vulnerable Veeam Backup and Replication 13.0.1.2067 and Earlier.
Update Components
There are different ways to trigger component update from Veeam. To proceed with the components update. Open Veeam Backup & Replication (VBR), and launch the VBR console. Then, connect to your backup server and click the ☰ Hamburger menu (top-left corner). Then select Updates and click on “Update Components”.
Alternatively, Now switch to Backup Infrastructure. Please see ‘Upgrade Path and In-Place Upgrade for VBR v13 and Known Fixes“.
- Select Managed Servers
- Find the VIHR repository, and right-click it. Then choose Rescan or Upgrade Component
As you can see, the VIHR component upgrade is in progress.
The VIHR is being updated.
Currently syncing software and update settings
The status “collecting disks and volume info” is being displayed.
As you can see below, click on Finish as the components have been successfully upgraded.
I hope you found this guide on “Failed to Upgrade VIHR Component: Failed to open deployer Service Management Port” very useful. Please feel free to leave a comment below.
