Cannot apply a configuration profile requiring a reboot on a 2-node cluster

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

When attempting to apply a configuration profile that requires maintenance mode or a reboot in a 2-node vSphere cluster, the operation will fail as the VMs will fail to vMotion from the source.

Environment

vCenter 8.0.x
vCenter 7.0.x

Cause

vSphere HA will not move VMs when entering maintenance mode in 2-node clusters if admission control is enabled.

Resolution

This issue can be resolved using the following two workarounds:

 

By disabling strict admission control:

1. Right-click the cluster and click Edit Settings.
2. Under Cluster Features, select vSphere Availability > EDIT...
3. Under Admission Control > Define host failover capacity by: select Disabled
4. Click OK.

By temporarily disabling VMware HA in the cluster settings:

• Right-click the cluster and click Edit Settings.
• Under Cluster Features, select Turn off VMware HA.
• Click OK.