ESXi host failed to enter maintenance mode

Products

• VMware vSAN

Issue/Introduction

ESXi host can not enter maintenance mode and task shows cancelled
During the task, vpxa shows HA configure file not found.

Sample log:

Er(163) Vpxa[2103874]: --> (vim.fault.FileNotFound) {
Er(163) Vpxa[2103874]: -->    faultCause = (vmodl.MethodFault) null,
Er(163) Vpxa[2103874]: -->    faultMessage = <unset>,
Er(163) Vpxa[2103874]: -->    file = "ds:///vmfs/volumes/<local datastore UUID>//.vSphere-HA/FDM-xxxx"
Er(163) Vpxa[2103874]: -->    msg = ""
Er(163) Vpxa[2103874]: --> }
Er(163) Vpxa[2103874]: --> Args:
Er(163) Vpxa[2103874]: -->
Er(163) Vpxa[2103874]: --> Arg url:
Er(163) Vpxa[2103874]: --> "ds:///vmfs/volumes/local datastore UUID//.vSphere-HA/FDM-xxxx"
Er(163) Vpxa[2103874]: --> Arg fileType:
Er(163) Vpxa[2103874]: --> "File"
Er(163) Vpxa[2103874]: --> Arg recursive:
Er(163) Vpxa[2103874]: --> true

Environment

ESXi 8.0U3

Cause

The Missing HA config file's path is on local Datastore.

Resolution

Disable HA, Put host into maintenance mode.