Error “Host cannot be added... Clusters managed by vSphere Configuration Profiles require ESXi 8.0.3”

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Adding an ESXi host with version prior to 8.0u3 to single image cluster fails with error :  "Host cannot be added to the cluster. Host x.x.x.x with ESXi version # cannot be added to the cluster. Clusters managed by vSphere Configuration Profiles but not by vLCM require minimum ESXi version 8.0.3"

Environment

• VMware vCenter Server 8.x
• VMware ESXi 8.0.2
• VMware ESXi 8.0.1
• VMware ESXi 8.0
• VMware ESXi 7.x

Cause

The hosts are currently running an ESXi version prior to 8.0u3 which is not supported with single image cluster and Configuration Profiles, as this requires ESXi 8.0.3 or later - Using vSphere Configuration Profiles to Manage Host Configuration at a Cluster Level

Resolution

Upgrade ESXI Host to version 8.0.3 or above

Workarond

If the upgrade is not possible immediately, below steps can be followed to workaround the issue :

Note : With the launch of vSphere 8.0, we are announcing the deprecation of vSphere Lifecycle Manager Baselines (previously known as vSphere Update Manager VUM). The capability will continue to be supported, and will remain in the product, and is available for use in vSphere 8, until its removal in the next Major release of vSphere.

1. Create a new Cluster
2. Uncheck both options which require ESXi version 8.0u3:
   • Manage all hosts in the cluster with a single image.
   • Manage configuration at a cluster level.
     
3. Click Next then click Finish
4. Add the ESXi host to the newly created cluster.