Error: "Resource group host/user/pool not found on system" when applying a host profile

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• Applying a host profile to a host fails
• You see the error:
  
  Resource group host/user/pool<id> not found on system.

Environment

• VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0
• VMware vCenter Server 5.0.x

Cause

This issue can occur when:

• There are resource pools on the vCenter Server
• The host profile is created on a host where virtual machines are residing
• The host profile has a folder called host/user/pool<id> that does not exist on another host

Resolution

You can resolve this issue by:

• Modifying the existing host profile
  
  Or
  
  
• Creating a host profile from a host that does not have any virtual machines

To modify the host profile:

1. Log in to the vCenter Server via the vSphere Client.
2. Navigate to Home > Management > Host Profiles.
3. Select the host profile and click Edit Profile.
4. Expand the host profile and navigate to Resource Pool.
5. Expand Resource Pool, right-click the folder /host/user/pool<id> and click Remove Profile.
6. Click OK.

To create a host profile from a host that does not have any virtual machines:

 

Note: This profile will not have the /host/user/pool<id> folder.

1. Log in to the vCenter Server via the vSphere Client.
2. Navigate to Home > Management > Host Profiles.
3. Click Create Profile, select Create Profile from existing host and click Next.
4. Select the host and click Next.
5. Enter a name for the host profile and click Next > Finish.