Unable to add the host to SDDC Manager; failing with an error: "vSAN Partition found on the host, needs clean-up."

Products

• VMware vSAN
• VMware Cloud Foundation
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Unable to add / Commission ESXi host in the SDDC manager with storage type vSAN

Environment

• VCF (All Versions)
• vSAN (All versions)
• ESXi 7.x
• ESXi 8.x
• ESX 9.x

Cause

• This issue occurs when existing vSAN partitions are present on the vSAN eligible disks.
  
  
• partedUtil command shows following vSAN partitions on the disks

# partedUtil getptbl /dev/disks/naa.500######

1 2048 6143 ###CFCCC7###11E092EE000C2911D### vsan 0
2 6144 250069646 ###1E02A400F11DB959###C2911D### virsto 0

Resolution

Note: Ensure the host is not part of any active vSAN cluster and does not contain any active objects before proceeding with the steps. 

Refer: Monitor Virtual Objects in the vSAN Cluster

Follow one of the below options

Option 1 - UI option

Delete vSAN partitions from the disks in order to address the issue. 

1. Log into affected ESXi host's web client.

2. Navigate to Storage > Devices > Select the vSAN eligible device.

3. Click on Actions > Clear partition table.

4. Repeat Step 2 & 3 for the remaining vSAN eligible devices on the affected host.

Option 2 - CLI Option:

From CLI with the help of partedUtil command the partitions can be deleted

1. List Partitions on the disk
   
   # partedUtil getptbl /dev/disks/naa.500######
gpt
15566 255 63 250069680
1 2048 6143 ###CFCCC7###11E092EE000C2911D### vsan 0
2 6144 250069646 ###1E02A400F11DB959###C2911D### virsto 0


2. Delete the Partitions
   
   # partedUtil delete /dev/disks/naa.500###### 1
# partedUtil delete /dev/disks/naa.500###### 2
   
   
3. Verify the Partitions on the disk post deletion
   
   # partedUtil getptbl /dev/disks/naa.500######
gpt
15566 255 63 250069680

If none of the above options work, delete the RAID from Server System Setup menu and re-image the ESX host - Refer to server vendor user guide on how to use the system setup menu