Unable to update an ESXi host via esxcli

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0
• VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0

Issue/Introduction

• When trying to update a host using the "esxcli software vib update" method the operation will fail with the errors below refencing bootbank_vib issues
  
  The transaction is not supported:  VIB VMW_bootbank_xxx_xxxxxx cannot be removed live. VIB VMW_bootbank_xxx-xxx_xxxxxx cannot be removed live.
  
  
• ESXi /var/run/log/hostd.log indicates hostd is unable to resolve the bootbank of the host

info hostd[2100822] [Originator@6876 sub=Vimsvc.ha-eventmgr] Event 316 : Issue detected on hostname.xxx.com in ha-datacenter: Bootbank cannot be found at path '/bootbank'
--> Bootbank cannot be found at path '/bootbank'
info hostd[2100823] [Originator@6876 sub=Vimsvc.ha-eventmgr] Event 318 : Issue detected on hostname.xxx.com in ha-datacenter: Bootbank cannot be found at path '/bootbank'
--> Bootbank cannot be found at path '/bootbank'

Environment

vSphere ESXi 7.0 u3

Cause

Hostd is unable to resolve the bootbank of the host
vibs that reference the bootbank flagged in the errors when the update fails

Resolution

Re-install the host as the bootbank has become corrupt / has hit a configuration issue 
Review of the boot device with the hardware vendor