Uninstalling EMC PowerPath/VE on an ESXi 5.x and ESXi 6.x host

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides steps to uninstall PowerPath/VE on an ESXi 5.x and ESXi 6.x host.

Symptoms:

• You are unable to remove EMC PowerPath/VE claim rule from an ESXi 5.x and ESXi 6.x host using this command:
  
  esxcli storage core claimrule remove
  
  
• Run this esxcli storage core claimrule list command to show EMC PowerPath/VE after a reboot.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.1
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.0

Resolution

To uninstall EMC PowerPath/VE on ESXi 5.x:

1. Log in to the ESXi host using Secure Shell (SSH).
2. Uninstall EMC PowerPath/VE, with the command:
   
   # esxcli software vib remove -n powerpath.plugin.esx -n powerpath.cim.esx -n powerpath.lib.esx
   
   Note: In ESXi 5.5 Update2 and later, run this command:
   
   # esxcli software vib remove --vibname=powerpath.plugin.esx --vibname=powerpath.cim.esx --vibname=powerpath.lib.esx
   
   
   
3. Reboot the host.
4. To confirm EMC PowerPath no longer exists, run this command:
   
   # esxcli storage core claimrule list
   

Additional Information

If EMC PowerPath VIB is not found, run this command:

esxcli software vib list | grep power*