Alert: "Install: An error occurred during the host configuration"

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• All the hosts are reporting continuous events stating "An error occurred during the host configuration" every few minutes. 
• The hosts generating these alerts are not participating in vSphere Replication.

• In var/log/esxupdate.log below events are observed.

  2025-06-02T07:00:25Z esxupdate: 5076018: downloader: INFO: Opening https://VR :443/vib/vmware-hbr-agent.vib for download
  2025-06-02T07:00:58Z esxupdate: 5076018: downloader: WARNING: Download failed: <urlopen error _ssl.c:1114: The handshake operation timed out>, 4 retry left...
  2025-06-02T07:01:31Z esxupdate: 5076018: downloader: WARNING: Download failed: <urlopen error _ssl.c:1114: The handshake operation timed out>, 3 retry left...

Environment

VMware vSphere Esxi 7.x
VMware vSphere Esxi 8.x

 

 

Cause

vSphere Replication attempts to push the HBR VIB to the hosts using vLCM. Even if the hosts are not actively using vSphere Replication, vLCM still tries to deploy the VIB. This process requires port 443 to be open between the hosts and the vSphere Replication appliance. If the port is not accessible, it can trigger connectivity-related alerts.

Resolution

Our production team is aware of this issue and is currently working on the fix. 

As a temporary workaround, please follow the steps below to mitigate the issue.

1. Login to vSphere Replication Appliance as admin user and sudo to root
2. cd /opt/vmware/hms/conf/
3. vi hms-configuration.xml and look for entry:
   <hms-auto-install-hbragent-vib>true</hms-auto-install-hbragent-vib>
4.  Modify the configuration to false
   <hms-auto-install-hbragent-vib>false</hms-auto-install-hbragent-vib>
5. Save the file
   :wq!
6. Restart hms service
   systemctl restart hms

Additional Information

https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/389735