Feature cannot be enabled on this cluster when trying to convert a cluster to vLCM Single Image Managed

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• Unable to convert a cluster to vLCM Single Image managed when there is a host in the cluster marked as "Not responding."
  
  
  
• vCenter UI displays the following errors:
  
  This cluster cannot be managed with an image.
Feature cannot be enabled on this cluster.
Cannot enable the feature because one or more eligibility conditions were not met.

• vCenter - /var/log/vmware/vmware-updatemgr/vum-server/vum-server-####.log

  2025-02-25T21:42:11.546Z error vmware-vum-server[151325] [Originator@6876 sub=HostLocator] [hostLocator 133] Failed to acquire lifecycle Vapi ticket for host host-######. Reason: Fault cause: vmodl.fault.HostCommunication
-->
2025-02-25T21:42:11.546Z error vmware-vum-server[151325] [Originator@6876 sub=ImageManager::EnablementManager] [EnablementManager 1552] Failed to retrieve payload for 'host-######' host. VmacoreError: Fault cause: vmodl.fault.HostCommunication
-->
2025-02-25T21:42:11.547Z error vmware-vum-server[151325] [Originator@6876 sub=ImageManager::EnablementManager] [EnablementManager 1894] Failed to retrieve payload information for 'domain-c###' cluster.
2025-02-25T21:42:11.547Z error vmware-vum-server[151325] [Originator@6876 sub=com.vmware.vcIntegrity.lifecycle.CheckFeatureApplicabilityTask] [Task, 524] Task:com.vmware.vcIntegrity.lifecycle.CheckFeatureApplicabilityTask ID:#. SOFTWARE check failed for 'domain-c###(<cluster_name>)' cluster.
2025-02-25T21:42:11.547Z info vmware-vum-server[151325] [Originator@6876 sub=com.vmware.vcIntegrity.lifecycle.CheckFeatureApplicabilityTask] [Task, 524] Task:com.vmware.vcIntegrity.lifecycle.CheckFeatureApplicabilityTask ID:#. Finalizing Task
2025-02-25T21:42:11.547Z error vmware-vum-server[151325] [Originator@6876 sub=com.vmware.vcIntegrity.lifecycle.CheckFeatureApplicabilityTask] [Task, 524] Task:com.vmware.vcIntegrity.lifecycle.CheckFeatureApplicabilityTask ID:#. Task Failed. Error: Error:
-->    com.vmware.vapi.std.errors.error
--> Messages:
-->    com.vmware.vcIntegrity.lifecycle.enablement.EligibilityCheck.UnsupportedSolution.Failure<Cluster contains payload from unsupported solution(s).>
-->

   

• Utilizing the hostID number from the vum-server.log file, hostID in the vpxd log can identify the affected host.

  vCenter - /var/log/vmware/vpxd/vpxd.log

  2025-02-25T21:42:11.540Z warning vpxd[09327] [Originator@6876 sub=InvtHostCnx opID=HostSync-host-######-<opID>] Exception occurred during host sync; Host communication failed; [vim.HostSystem: host-######,<host_name>], e: N5Vmomi5Fault17HostCommunication9ExceptionE(Fault cause: vmodl.fault.HostCommunication

Environment

vSphere vCenter Server 8.0.3

Cause

A host in the cluster is showing a not responding status and/or is on an unsupported version at which vCenter can manage, which is failing the eligibility check for the cluster to become single image managed.

Resolution

This is working as expected. The eligibility check will fail if there are issues with the hosts in the cluster communication with vCenter Server.

1. Ensure the affected host is on a supported version that vCenter can support. Refer to the Product Interoperability Matrix.
2. Resolve any host communication issues.

Workaround

Disconnect and/or remove the host from the cluster or vCenter Server.

Additional Information

Using vSphere Lifecycle Manager Images
Switching from Using Baselines to Using Images
Cluster Eligibility to Use vSphere Lifecycle Manager Images