Attaching a host profile fails with the error: A specified parameter was not correct

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Cannot attach a host profile created on a host using HP Flex 10
• Attaching a host profile created on a host using HP Flex10 fails
• You see the error:
  
  A specified parameter was not correct.
  
  
• In the hostd log, you see messages similar to:
  
  [2011-05-10 08:13:06.402 F5E6BB90 info 'TaskManager' opID=D6A148C5-000025A3-bd] Task Created : haTask-ha-host-vim.host.NetworkSystem.updatePhysicalNicLinkSpeed-38088
  [2011-05-10 08:13:06.403 F5E6BB90 info 'NetworkProvider' opID=D6A148C5-000025A3-bd] Could not update link speed of physical NIC [vmnic1]: the duplex and speed combination is not valid.
  [2011-05-10 08:13:06.403 F5E6BB90 info 'App' opID=D6A148C5-000025A3-bd] AdapterServer caught exception: 5d627ce8
  [2011-05-10 08:13:06.403 F5E6BB90 info 'TaskManager' opID=D6A148C5-000025A3-bd] Task Completed : haTask-ha-host-vim.host.NetworkSystem.updatePhysicalNicLinkSpeed-38088 Status error
  
  
• In the messages log, you see entries similar to:
  
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: [2011-06-01 20:49:45.041 FFECFE80 error 'NetworkProvider' opID=8D1A2AD4-000001CC-7e] DoSetPhysicalNicLinkSpeed: Operation not supported: Operation not supported
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: [2011-06-01 20:49:45.043 FFECFE80 info 'App' opID=8D1A2AD4-000001CC-7e] AdapterServer caught exception: 0727f2f0
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: [2011-06-01 20:49:45.043 FFECFE80 info 'TaskManager' opID=8D1A2AD4-000001CC-7e] Task Completed : haTask-ha-host-vim.host.NetworkSystem.updatePhysicalNicLinkSpeed-4086 Status error
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: [2011-06-01 20:49:45.043 FFECFE80 info 'Vmomi' opID=8D1A2AD4-000001CC-7e] Activation [N5Vmomi10ActivationE:0x401d7ef0] : Invoke done [updatePhysicalNicLinkSpeed] on [vim.host.NetworkSystem:networkSystem]
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: [2011-06-01 20:49:45.043 FFECFE80 verbose 'Vmomi' opID=8D1A2AD4-000001CC-7e] Arg device:
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: "vmnic0"
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: [2011-06-01 20:49:45.044 FFECFE80 verbose 'Vmomi' opID=8D1A2AD4-000001CC-7e] Arg linkSpeed:
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: (null)
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: [2011-06-01 20:49:45.044 FFECFE80 info 'Vmomi' opID=8D1A2AD4-000001CC-7e] Throw vim.fault.PlatformConfigFault
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: [2011-06-01 20:49:45.044 FFECFE80 info 'Vmomi' opID=8D1A2AD4-000001CC-7e] Result:
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: (vim.fault.PlatformConfigFault) {
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: dynamicType = <unset>,
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: faultCause = (vmodl.MethodFault) null,
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: faultMessage = (vmodl.LocalizableMessage) [
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: (vmodl.LocalizableMessage) {
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: dynamicType = <unset>,
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: key = "com.vmware.esx.hostctl.default",
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: arg = (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) [
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) {
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: dynamicType = <unset>,
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: key = "reason",
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: value = "Operation not supported: Operation not supported",
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: }
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: ],
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: message = <unset>,
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: }
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: ],
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: text = "",
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: msg = ""
  Jun 1 20:49:45 Hostd: }

Environment

VMware ESX 4.0.x
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Installable
VMware vCenter Server 4.1.x
VMware ESX 4.1.x

Resolution

When creating a profile from an HP Flex10 host, if the physical NIC link speed is not set to 10Mbps, 100Mbps, or 1000Mbps, the link speed in the profile is set to 0Mbps.

To apply the host profile with the desired physical NIC link speed, you must edit the profile manually.

To edit the profile manually:

1. Click the vCenter Server Home menu.
2. Click Host Profiles.
3. Right-click the profile to be edited and click Edit Host Profile.
4. Expand the profile object.
5. Expand Networking configuration > Physical NIC configuration.
6. Find and expand the physical NIC(s) that require a custom link speed.
7. Expand Physical network adapter.
8. Set the NIC configuration to Physical network adapter automatically negotiates the proper settings.
9. Click OK to save the configuration. The host profile should now apply and the NIC should negotiate the link speed properly.

If the issue persists:

1. Identify the speed reported for NICs on the ESX host by navigating to Configuration > Network Adapters.
2. Configure the host profile to match the speed noted in Step 1.
   
   To configure the host profile:
   
   
   1. Navigate to Physical NIC configuration > Physical NIC configuration > Physical Network adapter.
   2. Select Fixed physical NIC configuration.
   3. Select the name of the physical NIC to configure.
   4. Set the Link speed in the Mbps field to match link speed noted in Step 1.