Failed to install software on host. It is not safe to continue.

Products

• VMware NSX

Issue/Introduction

When trying to install NSX on an ESXi host, within the System->Fabric->Hosts view, the NSX Configuration for a host indicates "Install Failed". 

In the "View Details" dialog, the below error is identified:

• Failed to install software on host. Failed to install software on host. ############### : java.rmi.RemoteException: [LiveInstallationError] VMware_bootbank_nsx-esx-datapath_4.2.0.2.0-7.0.24278657: Error in running [/etc/init.d/nsx-datapath start install]: Return code: 1 Output: start install begin Exception: Traceback (most recent call last): File "/etc/init.d/nsx-datapath", line 2073, in checkLKMs() File "/etc/init.d/nsx-datapath", line 1663, in checkLKMs raise Exception(msg) Exception: Failed to load kernel modules: nsxt-switch-security-24278657, nsxt-vdl2-24278657, nsxt-vsip-24278657, nsxt-spf-24278657, nsxt-kcp-24278657, nsxt-ens-24278657, nsxt-vdrb-24278657 It is not safe to continue. Please reboot the host immediately to discard the unfinished update. cause = ('nsx-lcp-bundle(4.2.0.2.0-7.0.24278657)', 'nsx-datapath', 'Error in running [/etc/init.d/nsx-datapath start install]: ...

Environment

VMware NSX-T Data Center

VMware NSX

Cause

On checking the esxupdate.log, we see the same entry as shown in the UI error:

• It is not safe to continue. Please reboot the host immediately to discard the unfinished update

In the vCenter UI, selecting the affected host and then Monitor->Tasks and Events->Events shows the following Event:

• Successfully installed 0 VIB(s), removed 0 VIB(s).  Please use 'esxcli software profile get' or see log for more details about the transaction

Resolution

Place the host in maintenance mode and reboot it.

After the host has completed the reboot, return to NSX. 

Select the checkbox next to the error in the View Details dialog and click the "Resolve" button.

Preparation of the host is now expected to complete normally.