Error while adding a host back to vCenter: "The host has a datastore that conflicts with an existing datastore in the datacenter."

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi
• VMware vSAN

Issue/Introduction

When attempting to add an ESXi host back to vCenter, the below error message is received:

"<hostname> host has a datastore that conflicts with an existing datastore in the datacenter."

When searching for the ESXi host name across the entire vCenter inventory, no results are received. However, when searching for the ESXi host local datastore name in vCenter that is trying to be added back to vCenter, the entry for the local datastore is found. The local datastore for the same ESXi host may or may not be in an inaccessible state.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi (All Versions)

Cause

The ESXi host local datastore remains in the vCenter inventory due to VMs having an ISO attached via "CD/DVD Media" that resides on the datastore. As the local datastore information still resides in vCenter, a conflict arises when attempting to re-add the ESXi host to vCenter.

 

Resolution

To resolve this issue:

1. Select the local datastore via the Datastores tab in the left hand pane, then select the VMs tab in the right hand pane

2. Edit all the VM settings found in the above step, change the "CD/DVD Media" to the host device, and save the changes made in settings.

   
   
   
3. Once the above steps are completed, the local datastore will not be visible in the storage view, and the ESXi host add process should complete without any issues.