Attempts to remove VMkernel network interface result in error in VMware ESXi 5.1 and 5.5

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• Attempting to remove a VMkernel network interface fails with this error:
  
  Unable to remove VMkernel network interface /usr/lib/vmware/rp/bin/configRP decreaseRPMemMaxSize dhclient 9:failed
  
  
• A VMkernel network interface is configured to use a static IP address.
  

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.1

Resolution

Configure the VMkernel adapter to use DHCP type IP address before attempting to delete an adapter. Even if DHCP is not available on the underlying network, you must set the adapters to use a DHCP address so that the adapters can be deleted later.