Discontinued stickybit files on ESX.

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

As part of our goal of having a single source of truth for configurations on ESXi, we are discontinuing using stickybit files as the primary source of configurations. Each release since 7.0 has had more and more sticky files discontinued. ConfigStore is the source of truth now and stores all the configurations. This document discusses the various files that have either been removed or are present but no longer exist as writable stickybit files. Any file not listed here would not be impacted and continue to work as before.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.1
VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.2
VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0.1
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.3

Resolution

Impacted Stickybit Files

File Name	Impact	Affected Release	Documentation
/etc/vmware/welcome	Removed	7.0	Refer to vSphere ESXi 7.0 U2 and later versions configuration files for keymap and welcome message can no longer be edited (313863)
/etc/keymap	Removed	7.0	Refer to vSphere ESXi 7.0 U2 and later versions configuration files for keymap and welcome message can no longer be edited (313863)
/etc/vmware/uidmap.json	Removed	7.0	Not supported anymore.
/etc/krb5.realms /etc/krb5.acl /etc/krb5.mkey	Removed	7.0	Not supported anymore.
/etc/vmware/assign-hw.conf	Removed	7.0	Not supported anymore.
/etc/vmware/support	Read only.	7.0	Modification not supported anymore.
/etc/security/pam_env.conf	Read only.	7.0	Modification not supported anymore.
/etc/vmware/hostd/cmdMo.xml	Read only.	7.0	Modification not supported anymore.
/etc/vmware/hostd/dynMethodInvalidationBroker.xml	Read only.	7.0	Modification not supported anymore.
/etc/vmware/hostd/dynMethodPriv.xml	Read only.	7.0	Modification not supported anymore.
/etc/vmware/vsan/vsan-policy-cluster /etc/vmware/vsan/vsan-policy-vdisk /etc/vmware/vsan/vsan-policy-vmnamespace /etc/vmware/vsan/vsan-policy-vmswap /etc/vmware/vsan/vsan-policy-vmem	Removed	7.0	Not supported anymore.
/etc/vmware/vsan/vsan_kms_pwd	Removed	7.0	Not supported anymore.
/etc/vmware/smart_plugin.conf	Removed	7.0	Not supported anymore.
/etc/vmware/nas/nas.conf	Removed	7.0-U1	Not supported anymore.
/etc/vmware/ima_plugin.conf	Removed	7.0-U2	Not supported anymore.
/etc/vmware/vmkiscsid/initiatorname.iscsi	Removed	7.0-U2	Not supported anymore.
/etc/vmware/vmkiscsid/iscsid.conf	Removed	7.0-U2	Not supported anymore.
/etc/vmware/lunTimestamps.log	Removed	7.0-U2	Not supported anymore.
/etc/sfcb/sfcb.cfg	Removed	7.0-U2	Refer to vSphere ESXi 7.0 U2 and later versions configuration files for sfcb "wbem" and snmp can no longer be edited (340446)
/etc/vmware/snmp.xml	Removed	7.0-U2	Refer to vSphere ESXi 7.0 U2 and later versions configuration files for sfcb "wbem" and snmp can no longer be edited (340446)
/etc/vmsyslog.conf	Read only.	7.0-U2	Refer to vSphere ESXi 7.0 U2 and later versions configuration files for sfcb "wbem" and snmp can no longer be edited (340446)
/etc/vmsyslog.conf.d	Read only.	7.0-U2	Refer to vSphere ESXi 7.0 U2 and later versions configuration files for sfcb "wbem" and snmp can no longer be edited (340446)
/etc/vmsyslog.conf.d/<id.conf> Eg: /etc/vmsyslog.conf.d/loadESX.conf	Read only.	7.0-U2	Refer to KB 340446: vSphere ESXi 7.0 U2 and later versions configuration files for sfcb "wbem" and snmp can no longer be edited (340446)
/etc/vmsyslog.conf.d/esxapiadapter.conf	Removed	7.0-U2	Not supported anymore.
/etc/vmsyslog.conf.d/PyVsanMOProvider.conf	Read only.	7.0-U2	Refer to KB 340446: vSphere ESXi 7.0 U2 and later versions configuration files for sfcb "wbem" and snmp can no longer be edited (340446)
/etc/vmsyslog.conf.d/vsandpd.conf	Removed	7.0-U2	Not supported anymore.
/etc/vmsyslog.conf.d/ddecomd.conf	Removed	7.0-U2	Not supported anymore.
/etc/vmsyslog.conf.d/vsanrpd.conf	Removed	7.0-U2	Not supported anymore.
/etc/vmware/logfilters	Read only.	7.0-U2	Refer to KB 340446: vSphere ESXi 7.0 U2 and later versions configuration files for sfcb "wbem" and snmp can no longer be edited (340446)
/etc/vmware/vmwauth/camservers.conf	Removed	7.0-U2	Not supported anymore.
/etc/vmware/lockdown	Removed	7.0-U3	Not supported anymore.
/etc/vmware/cpservices/esxapiadapter/config.xml	Removed	7.0-U3	Not supported anymore.
/etc/vmware/hostd/config.xml /etc/vmware/hostd/probe-config.xml /etc/vmware/cpservices/esxtoken/config.xml	Removed	7.0-U3	Refer to How to change configuration settings for Hostd service in vSphere ESXi 7.0 Update 2 and later (319967)
/etc/passwd /etc/shadow /etc/group	Read only.	7.0-U3	Local accounts can be modified with "esxcli system account" commands or with VIM API LocalAccountManager.
/etc/vmware/lockdown.conf /etc/vmware/hostd/authorization.xml	Removed	7.0-U3	LockdownMode and user permissions can be accessed and modified with VIM APIs. Permissions can also be modified with "esxcli system permission" commands.
/etc/vmware/system-users.conf	Removed	7.0-U3	Use advanced options under "Security."
/etc/security/ssh_limits.conf	Read only.	7.0-U3	Use advanced options under "Security."
/etc/security/dcui-access.conf	Read only.	7.0-U3	Use advanced option "DCUI.Access"
/etc/vmware/hostd/passwd.maxdays	Removed	7.0-U3	Use advanced option "Security.PasswordMaxDays"
/etc/pam.d/passwd /etc/pam.d/system-auth-tally	Read only.	7.0-U3	Use advanced options under "Security."
/etc/vmware/vpxa/vpxa.cfg	Removed	7.0-U3	Refer to vSphere ESXi 7.0 U3 VPXA configuration properties (335066)
/etc/ntp.conf	Read only.	7.0-U3	Refer to vSphere ESXi 7.0 U3 and later versions configuration files for NTP and PTP can no longer be edited (313808)
/etc/ptp.conf	Read only.	7.0-U3	Refer to vSphere ESXi 7.0 U3 and later versions configuration files for NTP and PTP can no longer be edited (313808)
/etc/hosts	Read only.	7.0-U3	Refer to Changes to ESXi 7.0 U3 hosts /etc/hosts or /etc/resolv.conf revert after reboot (318036)
/etc/resolv.conf	Read only.	7.0-U3	Refer to Changes to ESXi 7.0 U3 hosts /etc/hosts or /etc/resolv.conf revert after reboot (318036)
/etc/issue /etc/motd	Read only.	8.0	Use "vim-cmd hostsvc/advopt/update Config.Etc.motd string <value>" and "vim-cmd hostsvc/advopt/update Config.Etc.issue string <value>"
/etc/vmware/locker.conf	Read only.	8.0	Use "vim-cmd hostsvc/advopt/update ScratchConfig.ConfiguredScratchLocation string <value>"
/etc/vmware/vmware.lic	Removed	8.0	Not supported anymore.

 

esx.conf

Much of the entries in esx.conf have moved to ConfigStore. The below table lists the impacted configurations, which should now be accessed and modified using the recommended esxcli commands.
 

Namespace	Released	Documentation
/storage	7.0 U1	Use "esxcli storage" commands
/nas	7.0 U1	Use "esxcli storage nfs" commands
/nfs41	7.0 U1	Use "excli storage nfs41" commands.
/storage/swIscsi/enabled	7.0 U1	Use "esxcli iscsi software" commands
/firewall	7.0 U2	Use "esxcli network firewall" commands
/net	7.0 U2	Use "esxcli network" commands
/vmkdevmgr	7.0-U2	Use "esxcli device" commands
/swap	7.0 U1	Use "esxcli sched swap system" commands
/hostCache	7.0 U1	Use "localcli --plugin-dir /usr/lib/vmware/esxcli/int sched hostcache" commands
/vmkernel	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings kernel" commands
/vmkernel/module	8.0	Use "esxcli system module" commands
Irq	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /Irq esxcli system settings advanced list -o /Irq/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /Irq/<option_name>
Misc	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /Misc esxcli system settings advanced list -o /Misc/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /Irq/<option_name>
Net	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /Net esxcli system settings advanced list -o /Net/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /Irq/<option_name>
Mem	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /Mem esxcli system settings advanced list -o /Mem/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /Irq/<option_name>
Cpu	8.0	Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /Cpu esxcli system settings advanced list -t /Cpu/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /Irq/<option_name>
Numa	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /Numa esxcli system settings advanced list -o /Numa/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /Irq/<option_name>
LPage	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /LPage esxcli system settings advanced list -o /LPage/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /LPage/<option_name>
Disk	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /Disk esxcli system settings advanced list -o /Disk/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /Disk/<option_name>
FileSystem	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /FileSystem esxcli system settings advanced list -o /FileSystem/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /FileSystem/<option_name>
Migrate	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands esxcli system settings advanced list -t /Migrate esxcli system settings advanced list -o /Migrate/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /Migrate/<option_name>
Scsi	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /Scsi esxcli system settings advanced list -o /Scsi/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /Scsi/<option_name>
User	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /User esxcli system settings advanced list -o /User/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /User/<option_name>
UserMem	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /UserMem esxcli system settings advanced list -o /UserMem/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /UserMem/<option_name>
UserObj	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /UserObj esxcli system settings advanced list -o /UserObj/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /UserObj/<option_name>
World	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /World esxcli system settings advanced list -o /World/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /World/<option_name>
NFS	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /NFS esxcli system settings advanced list -o /NFS/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /NFS/<option_name>
NFS41	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /NFS41 esxcli system settings advanced list -o /NFS41/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /NFS41/<option_name>
VMKTRACING	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /VMKTRACING esxcli system settings advanced list -o /VMKTRACING/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /VMKTRACING/<option_name>
VMFS3	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /VMFS3 esxcli system settings advanced list -o /VMFS3/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /VMFS3/<option_name>
BufferCache	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /BufferCache esxcli system settings advanced list -o /BufferCache/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /BufferCache/<option_name>
BufferCache2	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /BufferCache2 esxcli system settings advanced list -o /BufferCache2/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /BufferCache2/<option_name>
LVM	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /LVM esxcli system settings advanced list -o /LVM/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /LVM/<option_name>
DataMover	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /DataMover esxcli system settings advanced list -o /DataMover/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /DataMover/<option_name>
COW	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /COW esxcli system settings advanced list -o /COW/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /COW/<option_name>
SE	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /SE esxcli system settings advanced list -o /SE/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /SE/<option_name>
Power	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /Power esxcli system settings advanced list -o /Power/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /Power/<option_name>
FSS	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /FSS esxcli system settings advanced list -o /FSS/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /FSS/<option_name>
FDS	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /FDS esxcli system settings advanced list -o /FDS/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /FDS/<option_name>
FT	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /FT esxcli system settings advanced list -o /FT/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /FT/<option_name>
DirentryCache	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /DirentryCache esxcli system settings advanced list -o /DirentryCache/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /DirentryCache/<option_name>
HBR	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /HBR esxcli system settings advanced list -o /HBR/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /HBR/<option_name>
VProbes	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /VProbes esxcli system settings advanced list -o /VProbes/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /VProbes/<option_name>
Digest	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /Digest esxcli system settings advanced list -o /Digest/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /Digest/<option_name>
CBRC	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /CBRC esxcli system settings advanced list -o /CBRC/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /CBRC/<option_name>
PageRetire	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /PageRetire esxcli system settings advanced list -o /PageRetire/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /PageRetire/<option_name>
SvMotion	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /SvMotion esxcli system settings advanced list -o /SvMotion/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /SvMotion/<option_name>
Nmp	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /Nmp esxcli system settings advanced list -o /Nmp/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /Nmp/<option_name>
SunRPC	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /SunRPC esxcli system settings advanced list -o /SunRPC/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /SunRPC/<option_name>
XvMotion	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /XvMotion esxcli system settings advanced list -o /XvMotion/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /XvMotion/<option_name>
RCU	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /RCU esxcli system settings advanced list -o /RCU/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /RCU/<option_name>
VVOL	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /VVOL esxcli system settings advanced list -o /VVOL/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /VVOL/<option_name>
VFLASH	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /VFLASH esxcli system settings advanced list -o /VFLASH/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /VFLASH/<option_name>
ISCSI	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /ISCSI esxcli system settings advanced list -o /ISCSI/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /ISCSI/<option_name>
VSCSIStats	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /VSCSIStats esxcli system settings advanced list -o /VSCSIStats/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /VSCSIStats/<option_name>
PMem	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /PMem esxcli system settings advanced list -o /PMem/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /PMem/<option_name>
VmkAccess	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /VmkAccess esxcli system settings advanced list -o /VmkAccess/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /VmkAccess/<option_name>
USB	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /USB esxcli system settings advanced list -o /USB/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /USB/<option_name>
VisorFS	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /VisorFS esxcli system settings advanced list -o /VisorFS/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /VisorFS/<option_name>
Vmknvme	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /Vmknvme esxcli system settings advanced list -o /Vmknvme/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /Vmknvme/<option_name>
LoadESX	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /LoadESX esxcli system settings advanced list -o /LoadESX/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /LoadESX/<option_name>
CMMDS	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /CMMDS esxcli system settings advanced list -o /CMMDS/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /CMMDS/<option_name>
LSOM	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /LSOM esxcli system settings advanced list -o /LSOM/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /LSOM/<option_name>
Virsto	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /Virsto esxcli system settings advanced list -o /Virsto/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /Virsto/<option_name>
VSAN	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /VSAN esxcli system settings advanced list -o /VSAN/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /VSAN/<option_name>
VSAN-iSCSI	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /VSAN-iSCSI esxcli system settings advanced list -o /VSAN-iSCSI/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /VSAN-iSCSI/<option_name>
VSAN-DP	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /VSAN-DP esxcli system settings advanced list -o /VSAN-DP/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /VSAN-DP/<option_name>
UPIT	8.0	Use "esxcli system settings advanced" commands Get: esxcli system settings advanced list -t /UPIT esxcli system settings advanced list -o /UPIT/<option_name> Set: esxcli system settings advanced set -o /UPIT/<option_name>