An error "A general system error occurred: vDS host error: see faultCause" appears while removing ESXI host from vCenter

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

• Connect to the VCDB

/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

• Start the VPXD service 

service-control --start vmware-vpxd

• Remove the ESXI host from vCenter server using vSphere client