When a cluster uses ESXi 7.0 U3 / U3a / U3b as a desired image, enabling vSphere HA fails.

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vCenter Server 7.0
• VMware vCenter Server 8.0

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

Failed to power on virtual machines with message "vCenter Server is unable to find a master vSphere HA agent"

/var/log/vmware/vmware-updatemgr/vum-server/vmware-vum-server*.log

error vmware-vum-server[11302] [Originator@6876 sub=com.vmware.vcIntegrity.lifecycle.SetSolutionTask] [Task, xxx] Task:com.vmware.vcIntegrity.lifecycle.SetSolutionTask ID:xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx. Task Failed. Error: Error:
-->    com.vmware.vapi.std.errors.invalid_argument
--> Messages:
-->    com.vmware.vcIntegrity.lifecycle.EsxImage.BaseImageNotFound<The ESXi version 7.0.3-0.10.18905247 cannot be found in depot.>
-->    com.vmware.vcIntegrity.lifecycle.softwarespec.InvalidImage<Image is not valid.>
--> 

Environment

• vCenter Server 7.x
• vCenter Server 8.x

Cause

ESXi 7.0 U3 / U3a / U3b images are no longer available.
Therefore, if any of those images are set as a desired image, the image validation performed when enabling vSphere HA will fail and it will not be enabled successfully.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, edit cluster image and re-enable vSphere HA.

1. Login to vSphere Client
2. Navigate to Cluster -> [Updates] tab -> [Hosts] -> [Image]
3. Click [Edit]
4. Change "ESXi Version" from ESXi 7.0 U3 / U3a / U3b to an appropriate release.
5. Click [Save]
6. Disable and enable vSphere HA

Additional Information

* vSphere 7.0 Update 3, Update 3a & Update 3b - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/344838/vsphere-70-update-3-update-3a-update-3b.html