Host profiles parsed but not processed on the host server

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• Symptoms:
  When applying a host profile the following error is noted in the /var/log/syslog
  
  YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ [MainProcess INFO 'vmware.runcommand' HB-host-BBBBB@99-59d6c16c-02-YYY-536807f7-99
-d98d] runcommand called with: args = '['/bin/indcfg', '--read', '/tmp/hp_cim_ind_cfg_xjkc_ktg.jsn']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.^@
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ indcfg[2101352]: setupControl: config 32 tokens from 35 lines loaded.
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ indcfg[2101352]: Read 1 subscriptions from sfcbd
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ Host Profiles[2101135 opID=HB-host-BBBBB@82-59d6c16c-02-SWI-536807f7-51-d98d]: WARNING: Fail to parse destination URL: file:///dev/null^@
  

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0.x

Cause

Scratch space must be configured to use a persistent scratch space in order to properly parse and apply a host profile.

Resolution

Create a persistent scratch space locate for ESXi

     Steps:

1. Connect to vCenter Server or the ESXi host using the vSphere Client.
2. Click the ESXi host in the inventory.
3. Click the Configuration tab > Storage.
4. Right-click a Datastore and click Browse.
5. Create a uniquely-named directory for this ESXi host.
   
   For example:
   
   .locker-ESXiHostname
    
6. Close the Datastore Browser.
7. Click Software > Advanced Settings.
8. Select the ScratchConfig section.
9. Change the ScratchConfig.ConfiguredScratchLocation configuration option, specifying the full path to the directory.
   
   For example:
   
   /vmfs/volumes/DatastoreUUID/.locker-ESXiHostname
   
   Note: To determine the Datastore UUID: 
   1. Navigate to Configuration > Storage.
   2. Select the Datastore.
   3. View location under Datastore Details.
      
      The Datastore UUID appears similar to /vmfs/volumes/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx where xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx is the UUID.
       
10. Click OK.
11. Put the ESXi host into maintenance mode and reboot for the configuration change to take effect. 

Additional Information

See Creating a persistent scratch location for ESXi 8.x/7.x/6.x