ESX/ESXi host fails to update information with the error: vmware esx cannot synchronize host

Products

VMware vCenter Server VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

ESX/ESXi host fails to update information to vCenter Server
On the Summary page of the host, you see one of these errors:
- vmware esx cannot synchronize host "incorrect username and password"
- Cannot synchronize host : Cannot complete login due to an incorrect user name or password
In the /var/log/vpxa.log file, you see entries similar to:

[YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS] F6E73B90 verbose 'App' opID=task-internal-349047-7f8a0b5a] [VpxVmomi] Invoke error: vpxapi.VpxaService.login session: 52dc8d19-a810-9 706-xxxx-xxxxxe131209 Throw: vim.fault.InvalidLogin
[YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS] F6E73B90 verbose 'SoapAdapter.HTTPService' opID=task-internal-xxxxxx-7f8a0b5a] User agent is 'VMware-client/4.1.0'
[YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS] F6E73B90 verbose 'SoapAdapter.HTTPService' opID=task-internal-xxxxxx-7f8a0b5a] HTTP Response: Client: NeedsContentLength: false Under standsChunking: true CanKeepAlive: true (PresetContentLength -1) [YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS] F6E73B90 verbose 'SoapAdapter.HTTPService' opID=task-internal-xxxxxx-7f8a0b5a] HTTP Response: Complete (processed 585 bytes)
[YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS] F6E73B90 info 'App' opID=task-internal-xxxxxx-7f8a0b5a] [VpxLRO] -- FINISH task-internal-349047 -- -- vpxapi.VpxaService.login -- 52 dc8d19-xxxx-xxxx-6916-d6191e131209
[YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS] F6E73B90 info 'App' opID=task-internal-xxxxxx-7f8a0b5a] [VpxLRO] -- ERROR task-internal-349047 -- -- vpxapi.VpxaService.login: vim.f ault.InvalidLogin: Result: (vim.fault.InvalidLogin) { dynamicType = , faultCause = (vmodl.MethodFault) null, msg = "Cannot complete login due to an incorrect user name or password.", } Args: Arg userName: "vpxuser" Arg password: (not shown) Arg soapPort: 443 Arg hostIp: "host_IP"
[YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS] F6DF1B90 verbose 'App'] CloseSession called for session id=525fcdf4-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-a870e59bcfad
[YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS] F6E73B90 verbose 'SoapAdapter.HTTPService'] User agent is 'VMware-client/4.1.0' [YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS] F6E73B90 verbose 'SoapAdapter.HTTPService'] HTTP Response: Client: NeedsContentLength: false UnderstandsChunking: true CanKeepAlive: true (PresetContentLength -1)'

Note: The preceding log excerpts are only examples. Date, time, and environmental variables may vary depending on your environment.

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 5.5.x	VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5
VMware vCenter Server 6.0.x	VMware vSphere ESXi 6.0
VMware vCenter Server 6.5.x	VMware vSphere ESXi 6.5
VMware vCenter Server 6.7.x	VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7
VMware vCenter Server 7.0.x	VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.x
VMware vCenter Server 8.0.x	VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0.x

Cause

The issue occurs when the vpxuser password is out of sync with the vCenter Server database and the password on the host or the password is manually modified.

The vpxuser account is created by vCenter Server when adding an ESX host. VMware does not recommend to modify the vpxuser account.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, resynchronize the password with the vCenter Server database. The host reconnects without the error on the Summary tab.

Note: Do not remove the host from the Inventory. When an ESX/ESXi host is removed from the vCenter Server Inventory, virtual machines are removed from their respective folders, performance data for the host is lost, and any Distributed Virtual Switch configurations on the host needs to be reconfigured.

To resynchronize the password with the vCenter Server database:

Right-click the ESXi host and click Disconnect.
Reconnect the host and enter the root password when prompted.

Note: For more information, see the Disconnecting and Reconnecting a Host section in the vCenter Server and Host Management Guide.

When reconnected the virtual machines are placed in a folder in VMs and Templates view and they show in the Hosts and Clusters view under the hosts they are registered to. Reorganize virtual machines into their correct folders.