Image Based Cluster Not Updating Add-On Pack Drivers

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

When remediating ESXi hosts with a cluster image, some drivers may not be updated. No errors are listed in the process, remediation completes successfully and shows the host in compliance. 

Environment

vSphere

Cause

This is caused by drivers previously added/defined in the add components section. You can validate this from the vmware-vum-server log checking the cluster image. Objects seen under components are image defined and updated drivers available from an add-on package will not be installed for these.

2025-03-11T11:08:23.106-06:00 info vmware-vum-server[38142] [Originator@6876 sub=EntityImageManager opID=fae9f74f-558c-4c56-962f-ae282f2b2b2f] [EntityImageManager 525] [Get] Get effective image, imageSpec: {
-->     "add_on": {
-->         "name": "DEL-ESXi",
-->         "version": "803.24280767-A02"
-->     },
-->     "alternative_images": null,
-->     "base_image": {
-->         "version": "8.0.3-0.60.24585383"
-->     },
-->     "components": {
-->         "Broadcom-bnxt-Net-RoCE": "227.0.234.0-1OEM.800.1.0.20613240",
-->         "Intel-i40en": "2.5.2.0-1OEM.700.1.0.15843807",
-->         "MRVL-E3-Ethernet-iSCSI-FCoE": "3.0.202.0-1OEM.700.1.0.15843807",
-->         "MRVL-E4-CNA-Driver-Bundle": "6.0.345.0-1OEM.800.1.0.20143090",
-->         "VMware-VM-Tools": "12.5.0.24276846-24283371",
-->         "dell-fac-dcui-component": "8.0.0-A01"
-->     },
-->     "hardware_support": null,
-->     "removed_components": null,
-->     "solutions": {
-->         "com.vmware.vsphere-ha": {
-->             "components": [
-->                 {
-->                     "component": "vsphere-fdm"
-->                 }
-->             ],
-->             "version": "8.0.3-24322831"

Resolution

Remove these components from the image and the add-on package drivers will install. 

Additional Information

Bulletins, Components, Add-Ons, and ESXi Base Images Tech Docs