RecoverPoint for VM: ESXi Splitter VIB installation and start-up issues with on ESXi host: Error in running [/etc/init.d/rp-splitterd start install]: Return code: 1

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

RecoverPoint VIB installation fails with many errors, such as:

 [LiveInstallationError]
 EMC_bootbank_RP-Splitter_RPESX-00.5.3.4.1.0.m.184.000: Error in running [/etc/init.d/rp-splitterd start install]:
 Return code: 1
 Output: Tue Jul 29 13:04:12 UTC 2025: rp_splitterd: Starting rp_splitter
[timestamp]: rp_splitterd: DEBUG (notice true==0): isKdriverRunning=1, isSplitterRunning=1
[timestamp]: rp_splitterd: recover_point_group already exists, proceeding...
.........
vmkmod: VMKMod_Load: VMKMod_MMapModule(/usr/lib/vmware/vmkmod/esx_splitter): Failure
 Cannot load module esx_splitter: Failure
[timestamp]: rp_splitterd: start_kdriver_from_boot.sh Failed to execute. failing service.

 It is not safe to continue. Please reboot the host immediately to discard the unfinished update.
      cause = ('N/A', 'rp-splitterd', 'Error in running [/etc/init.d/rp-splitterd start install]:\nReturn code: 1\nOutput: Tue Jul 29 13:04:12 UTC 2025: rp_splitterd: Starting 
.........

Event in /var/run/log/vmkernel.log:

[timestamp] In(182) vmkernel: cpu0:2101955 opID=########Config: 761: "ExecInstalledOnly" = 0, Old Value: 0, (Status: 0x0)
[timestamp] In(182) vmkernel: cpu35:2106078)UserMem: 7723: mmap denied: execInstalledOnly is enabled: file '/tmp/esx_splitter' is not installed

Environment

vSphere 8

Cause

The ESXi host has a setting VMKernel.Boot.execInstalledOnly set to true.
This setting prevents the kdriver vib to install correctly using live installation.

RecoverPoint Splitter cannot function with VMKernel.Boot.execInstalledOnly set to true.

Resolution

1. On the ESXi host, change the VMKernel.Boot.execInstalledOnly setting to false.

• Run the following ESXCLI command:

esxcli system settings encryption set --require-exec-installed-only=F

• Verify the change:

esxcli system settings encryption get
Mode: TPM
Require Executables Only From Installed VIBs: false
Require Secure Boot: true

Confirm that Require Executables Only From Installed VIB displays false.

• To save the setting, run the following command:

/sbin/auto-backup.sh

    The TPM no longer enforces the execInstalledOnly boot option. 

2. Reboot the ESXi host.
3. Run the vib installation again.

 

Note: Sometimes the value is set to false by checking it from the CLI steps above. However from vSphere UI, the value is set to true from below field, the value must be modified from UI as well followed by ESXi reboot

 

 

1. In the vCenter GUI, change the VMKernel.Boot.execInstalledOnly setting to false

• Navigate to the host object -> Configure Tab -> Advanced Settings
• Click the Edit button in the upper right
• Update the VMKernel.Boot.execInstalledOnly value to 'true'

    The TPM no longer enforces the execInstalledOnly boot option. 

2. Reboot the ESXi host.
3. Run the vib installation again.

 

Additional Information

Dell KB: RecoverPoint for VM: ESXi Splitter VIB installation and start-up issues with on ESXi host