"Desired configuration failed validation on the host. Check compliance is skipped" error after adding a new ESXi host to existing Configuration Profile configured cluster

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• An existing cluster is configured with the Configuration Profiles.
• Configuration Profile is imported from a Reference host.
• While adding a new ESXi host to the cluster, compliance check fails with the error: "Desired configuration failed validation on the host. Check compliance is skipped".
• Under Cluster > Configure > Desired State > Configuration > Compliance, below errors are seen:
  
  
  

  Path

  /host-specific/#######-#####-####-0000-0000000#####/esx/network/vmknics/2/ip/ipv4_address

  Can not set default gateway on 'vmk2' because ip address unset
Can not set default gateway 'ip_address' on netstack "defaultTcpipStack', network unreachable. 

• All the existing hosts show as compliant for the Configuration Profile.

Environment

• VMware vCenter 8.x
• VMware vSphere ESXi 8.x.

Cause

• While adding a new ESXi host to the existing Configuration Profiles configuired cluster, this behavior is expected as Cluster is unaware of the host-specific details o0f the ESXi host which is added to the cluster.

Resolution

Please follow the below steps after adding the ESXi host to a CP configured cluster:

• Browse to the Configuration Profile configured cluster where the new host is added.
• Export the cluster configuration from Cluster > Configure > Desired State > Configuration > Settings > Export > Cluster Configuration.
• This will download the Cluster Config in a json format.
• Open this json file in a Editor.
• Look for the host-specific tag in the json file.
• Every host which was already part of the cluster will have a unique ID. 
• Get the unique ID for the host which needs to be added from the Error in Compliance check: /host-specific/#######-#####-####-0000-0000000#####/esx/network/vmknics/2/ip/ipv4_address.
• Copy any one of the host details and paste under host-specific tag and edit the details as per the newly added host. (Eg: ipv4_address)
• Save the file and import to the cluster under Cluster > Configure > Desired State > Configuration > Draft > Import from File.
• Click on Show Changes if required or else click on Apply Changes.
• This will perform a pre-check and also show us the impact of the remediation.
• Click on Remediate to apply the changes on the host.
• Once the remediation task is completed the ESXi host comes up as compliant for the configuration profile.

Additional Information

VMware Youtube video: Add New Host to Configuration Profile Cluster