Configuring vSphere HA fails with error "License not available to perform the operation"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Configuring vSphere HA fails with below error message:

License not available to perform the operation.

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 6.x
VMware vCenter Server 7.x
VMware vCenter Server 8.x

Cause

This issue can occur if the vmdir of vCenter Server is in READ_ONLY state.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, perform the below steps to change the vmdir to NORMAL state:

Note: Ensure to take a backup of vCenter Server before proceeding.

1. Log in to the vCenter Server with SSH access.
2. Type shell and press Enter
   • Command> shell
3. Execute command: /usr/lib/vmware-vmdir/bin/vdcadmintool
4. Press 6 to check the status of vmdir if READ_ONLY. If yes, go to the next step. Otherwise, stop here and issue does not match this KB.
   • 
5. Press 5 and enter NORMAL to set vmdir to NORMAL state
   • 
6. Press 0 to exit the tool.
7. Perform vSphere HA configuration again.

Additional Information

If the issue is re-occurring after following the above steps, refer VMDIR in Read-Only state due to conflict between VCSA FBBR and VM Snapshot level backups