Upgrade of ESXi host from SDDC manager fails with error “The Host is incompatible with the Patch/upgrade iso file” due to an incompatible custom VIB

Products

• VMware SDDC Manager
• VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0
• VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

 

• Upgrade workflow on SDDC manager fails with error "Incompatible patch or upgrade files. Please verify that the patch file is compatible for host".
  
  
  
  
  
• Host has been validated in the hardware compatibility list as eligible for upgrade.
  
  
• SDDC manager logs contains errors similar to the excerpt below:
  
  /var/log/vmware/vcf/lcm/lcm-debug.log
  
  ERROR [vet_Lem, 66ecO3ddfc5359dd0a823a461df3cff,ebba] [c.v.evo.sddc. Lem.model.task.SubTask,http-nio-127.0.0.1-7400-exec-7] Upgrade error occured: The
host 38xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxb6 is incompatible with the Patch/upgrade iso file
  
  
• Host logs reporting a VIB dependency error similar to the excerpt below:
  
  /var/log/vua.log
  
-->     <test>
-->       <name>MISSING_DEPENDENCY_VIBS</name>
-->       <expected>
-->
-->       </expected>
-->       <found>
-->         <value>DEL_bootbank_dell-fac-dcui_7.0.3-A02</value>
-->         <value>DEL_bootbank_dell-osname-idrac_7.0.0-A02</value>
-->         <value>DEL_bootbank_dell-configuration-vib_7.0.0-A02</value>
-->       </found>
-->       <result>ERROR</result>
-->     </test>

Environment

VMware SDDC Manager 5.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.x/8.x

Cause

This issue is expected as the specific custom VIBs cannot carryover to new version and there is no replacement in the target build marking them as incompatible.

Resolution

To remediate the issue remove the incompatible VIBs and reattempt the upgrade.

Resolution steps:

IMPORTANT NOTE: Ensure that a ESXi backup configuration have been taken before making any modifications.

 

1. Place the host in maintenance mode.
   
   
   
2. Login to the affected host on SSH.
3. Use the following command to display the list of incompatible VIBs displayed in the VUA logs:
   
   esxcli software vib list | grep <driver>
   
   Note: Replace <driver> with the actual name of the driver.
   
   Example:
   
   # esxcli software vib list | grep DEL

dell-configuration-vib         7.0.0-A02                              DEL     PartnerSupported  2024-02-16
dell-fac-dcui                  7.0.3-A02                              DEL     PartnerSupported  2024-02-16
dell-osname-idrac              7.0.0-A02                              DEL     PartnerSupported  2024-02-16
   
   
   
4. Use the following command to remove the vib:
   
   esxcli software vib remove -n <name of the vib>
   
   Note: Replace <name of the vib> with the actual name of the vib.
   
   Example:
   
   # esxcli software vib remove -n dell-fac-dcui
# esxcli software vib remove -n dell-osname-idrac
# esxcli software vib remove -n dell-configuration-vib

   
   
   
5. Reboot the ESXi
   
   
6. Reattempt the upgrade workflow.

Additional Information

Related Dell documentation:

How to fix: Missing dependency vibs error when upgrading ESXi with Dell Customized ESXi 7.x or 8.x Image