Adding an ESXi host to the vCenter Server inventory fails with the error: Call "datacenter.queryconnectioninfo" for object on vCenter Server failed

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Cannot add an ESXi host to the vCenter Server inventory.
• Adding an ESXi host to the vCenter Server inventory fails.
• You see the error:
  
  Call "datacenter.queryconnectioninfo" for object "DC or Cluster Name" on vCenter Server "vCenter" failed.
   
• In the vpxd.log file, the entries:
   
  • Indicate that connections to the ESXi host are refused.
  • Advise you to check that the vmkauthd service is running on the ESXi host

Note: For more information on the location of the vpxd.log file, see:

• • vCenter Server 5.x: Location of vCenter Server log files
  • vCenter Server 6.0: Location of VMware vCenter Server 6.0 log files

Environment

VMware ESXi 4.0.x Installable
VMware vCenter Server 6.7.x
VMware vCenter Server 5.5.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5
VMware vCenter Server 6.0.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0
VMware ESXi 3.5.x Installable
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.1
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.x
VMware vCenter Server 5.0.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.0
VMware vCenter Server 5.1.x
VMware vCenter Server 4.0.x
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Embedded
VMware ESXi 3.5.x Embedded

Cause

This issue occurs because there is an issue with network communication between the vCenter Server and the ESXi host that is added to the inventory.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, verify these steps from the vCenter Server machine:

• Ensure that the version of vCenter Server is same or higher than the ESXi host being added.
• Verify the IP of the ESXi host is the one configured for the management vmkernel interface.
• Verify you are able to connect to the ESXi host using the vSphere Client.
• Verify the DNS records for the ESXi host is configured correctly. For more information, see the vSphere DNS Requirements section of the ESXi and vCenter Server 6.0 Documentation Guide.
• Verify the ESXi host ports are accessible. For more information, see Troubleshooting network and TCP/UDP port connectivity issues on ESX/ESXi.
• Closing the datacenter.queryconnectioninfo error prompt, you see the error:
  
  Cannot contact the specified host. The host may not be available on the network, a network configuration problem may exist, or the management service on this host is not responding
  
  Increase the SSL handshake timeout to 12000. For more information, see Alarms about the host connection state changing from green to red frequently occur.
   

This also occurs when:

• Lockdown mode is enabled on the ESXi host. For more information, see Enabling or disabling Lockdown mode on an ESXi host
• Incorrect credentials are entered when adding the ESXi host. For more information, see Changing a forgotten root password on an ESX/ESXi host.

After resolving this issue, if the ESXi host disconnects, see:

• ESX/ESXi host keeps disconnecting and reconnecting when heartbeats are not received by vCenter Server
• Diagnosing an ESXi/ESX host that is disconnected or not responding in VMware vCenter Server

Additional Information

Additional articles for reference:

Troubleshooting an ESXi/ESX host in non responding state
ESXi host disconnects intermittently from vCenter Server
Enabling or disabling Lockdown mode on an ESXi host
Alarms about the host connection state changing from green to red frequently occur
Location of vCenter Server log files
Changing a forgotten root password on an ESX/ESXi host
Troubleshooting network and TCP/UDP port connectivity issues on ESX/ESXi
Location of VMware vCenter Server 6.0 log files