[Satellite 6]`undefined method `value for nil:NilClass (NoMethodError)` while upgrading Red Hat Satellite server.

Environment

• Red Hat Satellite 6.2.x.

Issue

• Red Hat Satellite upgrade failing with the following error:

# satellite-installer --scenario satellite --upgrade
Upgrading...
/usr/share/katello-installer-base/hooks/pre/30-upgrade.rb:194:in `block (4 levels) in load': undefined method `value' for nil:NilClass (NoMethodError)
        from /usr/share/gems/gems/kafo-0.7.6.1/lib/kafo/hooking.rb:34:in `instance_eval'
        from /usr/share/gems/gems/kafo-0.7.6.1/lib/kafo/hooking.rb:34:in `block (4 levels) in load'
        from /usr/share/gems/gems/kafo-0.7.6.1/lib/kafo/hook_context.rb:13:in `instance_exec'
        from /usr/share/gems/gems/kafo-0.7.6.1/lib/kafo/hook_context.rb:13:in `execute'
        from /usr/share/gems/gems/kafo-0.7.6.1/lib/kafo/hooking.rb:51:in `block in execute'
        from /usr/share/gems/gems/kafo-0.7.6.1/lib/kafo/hooking.rb:49:in `each'
        from /usr/share/gems/gems/kafo-0.7.6.1/lib/kafo/hooking.rb:49:in `execute'
        from /usr/share/gems/gems/kafo-0.7.6.1/lib/kafo/kafo_configure.rb:375:in `run_installation'
        from /usr/share/gems/gems/kafo-0.7.6.1/lib/kafo/kafo_configure.rb:141:in `execute'
        from /usr/share/gems/gems/clamp-0.6.2/lib/clamp/command.rb:67:in `run'
        from /usr/share/gems/gems/clamp-0.6.2/lib/clamp/command.rb:125:in `run'
        from /usr/share/gems/gems/kafo-0.7.6.1/lib/kafo/kafo_configure.rb:148:in `run'
        from /sbin/satellite-installer:12:in `<main>'

Resolution

• Verify that the following foreman_proxy plugin for pulp has an entry in /etc/foreman-installer/scenarios.d/satellite-answers.yaml.

 "foreman_proxy::plugin::pulp": 
    enabled: true
    listen_on: https
    pulpnode_enabled: false
    version: 
    group: 
    pulp_url: "https://satellite.example.com/pulp"
    pulp_dir: /var/lib/pulp
    pulp_content_dir: /var/lib/pulp/content
    mongodb_dir: /var/lib/mongodb

For more KB articles/solutions related to Red Hat Satellite 6.x Installation/Upgrade/Update Issues, please refer to the Red Hat Satellite Consolidated Troubleshooting Article for Red Hat Satellite 6.x Installation/Upgrade/Update Issues.

Root Cause

• Unable to start pulp service to initiate Red Hat Satellite upgrade as foreman_proxy::plugin::pulp entry is missing from /etc/foreman-installer/scenarios.d/satellite-answers.yaml.

Diagnostic Steps

• pulp service refuses to start despite multiple restarts:

# hammer ping
candlepin:
    Status:          ok
    Server Response: Duration: 23ms
candlepin_auth:
    Status:          ok
    Server Response: Duration: 24ms
pulp:
    Status:          FAIL
    Server Response:
foreman_tasks:
    Status:          ok
    Server Response: Duration: 42ms

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