An error "A general system error occurred: vDS host error: see faultCause" appears while removing ESXI host from vCenter
book
Article ID: 388911
calendar_today
Updated On: 05-16-2025
Products
VMware vSphere ESXi
VMware vCenter Server 7.0
VMware vCenter Server 8.0
Issue/Introduction
Removing ESXI host from vCenter from inventory throws the error " A general system error occurred: vDS host error: see faultCause"

Environment
VMware vSphere 7.0.x
VMware vSphere 8.0.x
Cause
Virtual machine or VM template configured with a vDS port group still residing on the disconnected ESXI
Resolution
To remove the disconnected ESXI from vCenter server inventory:
- Take a valid snapshot of the vCenter
- Stop the vpxd service
service-control --stop vmware-vpxd
/opt/vmware/vpostgres/current/bin/psql -d VCDB -U postgres
- Identify the ESXi host ID in the vCenter database with this command:
select ID from VPX_ENTITY where name ='<esxi host name>';
- List the virtual machines or templates from the table which exist on this ESXi
select id from vpx_vm where host_id = <esxi host id>;
- Follow the below article to remove the VM or VM template from database
Manually removing a stale VM from the vCenter Server vpostgres database
service-control --start vmware-vpxd
- Remove the ESXI host from vCenter server using vSphere client
Feedback
Was this article helpful?
thumb_up
Yes
thumb_down
No