Another process is updating the ESX image while trying to install or uninstall the FDM (HA) Agent from ESXi Host

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Uninstall the fdm agent from the Host manually

While installing the FDM Agent from command line from the Host, it fails with below error.

# esxcli software vib install -v /tmp/VMware_bootbank_vmware-fdm_7.0.3-21784229.vib
  [LockingError]
 Another process is updating the ESX image. Please try again later.
Please refer to the log file for more details.

While uninstalling the FDM Agent from command line from the Host, it fails with below error.

# esxcli software vib remove -n vmware-fdm
  [LockingError]
 Another process is updating the ESX image. Please try again later.
Please refer to the log file for more details.

In the hostd log, there will be such logs. 

/var/log/hostd.log:

esxupdate: ImageProfile : DEBUG: VIB VMware_bootbank_vmware-fdm_7.0.3-21784229.vib is being removed from ImageProfile (Updated) <ProfileName>
esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: Installers initiated are ('Live;: "vmware esxImage.Installer.LiveImageInstaller.LiveImageInstaller object at <address>, 'boot': *vmware.esximage.Installer.BootBankInstaller.BootBank Installer object at <addreses>, 'locker': *vmware.esximage.Installer.LoeckerInstaller.LockerInstaller object at <address>)

Environment

• ESXi 6.7.x
• ESXi 7.x
• ESXi 8.0.x

Cause

The FDM Agent removal process is still running and is stale as per the hostd log.

Resolution

1. Reboot the Host manually
2. Retry uninstalling the FDM Agent again from command line using the below command.
   esxcli software vib remove -n vmware-fdm

Additional Information

If the affected FDM agent is not uninstalled, then the actual FDM Agent cannot be installed and there will be issue if an HA failover is initiated.