VCF 9.0 Installer validation fails at ESX Host Configuration with error - ESX Host esx01.example.com has 2 Physical NICs connected to vSphere Standard Switch vSwitch0 (Expecting 1)

Products

• VMware Cloud Foundation

Issue/Introduction

Validation fails during the VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) installation or host commissioning process at the ESXi Host Configuration phase.

The following error is observed in the VCF Installer UI:

ESX Host Configuration    Failed
ESX Host <ESXi Host FQDN> has 2 Physical NICs connected to vSphere Standard Switch vSwitch0 (Expecting 1)
Remediation: Ensure that ESX host <ESXi Host FQDN> has only 1 Physical NIC connected to vSphere Standard Switch vSwitch0

Inspection of the ESXi host networking reveals that multiple physical NICs (vmnics) are currently assigned to the vSphere Standard Switch (vSwitch0).

Environment

VMware Cloud Foundation 9.x

 

Cause

The validation failure occurs because multiple physical NICs are assigned to the vSphere Standard Switch (vSwitch0) on the target ESXi host. The VCF 9.x deployment and commissioning architecture requires that only a single physical NIC is connected to the standard switch prior to configuration. Refer VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 Commission ESX Hosts 

Resolution

To resolve this issue, the ESXi host network configuration must be adjusted to meet the installer prerequisites.

1. Log in to the affected ESXi host using the vSphere Client.

2. Navigate to Networking > Virtual Switches > vSwitch0.

3. Verify the number of physical NICs (uplinks) currently connected.

4. Remove the additional uplink so that only a single physical NIC remains connected to vSwitch0. (Example: If vmnic0 and vmnic1 are both connected, remove vmnic1.)

5. Verify that the removed physical NIC is left in an unclaimed state. It must not be left in an unused state.

6. Save the configuration changes.

7. Re-run the VMware Cloud Foundation Installer validation.

Additional Information

For further information regarding host preparation, refer to the official VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 documentation on Commissioning ESXi Hosts.