Unable to add ESXi host distributed switch

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• Adding ESXi host back to DVS after rebuild fails with error:
  Cannot create DVPort 94##### of VDS ######A on the host <hostname>
fault.DvsApplyOperationFault.summary
The object or item referred to could not be found.
• The host was previously part of the same distributed switch.
• There was no opportunity to gracefully remove the host from distributed switch before the rebuild.
• Host logs :
  • /var/log/hostd.log
    2025-10-15T11:57:21.628Z warning hostd[2107314] [Originator@6876 sub=Hostsvc.NetworkProvider opID=<op-id> user=vpxuser:##\#######] GetDvsById: dvs <dvs-id> 68 not found
2025-10-15T11:57:21.629Z warning hostd[2107314] [Originator@6876 sub=Hostsvc.NetworkProvider opID=<op-id> user=vpxuser:##\#######] GetDvsById: dvs <dvs-id> 68 not found
2
2025-10-15T11:57:21.639Z verbose hostd[2107314] [Originator@6876 sub=Solo.Vmomi opID=<op-id> user=vpxuser:##\#######] Arg methodName:
--> "applyDVPort"
2025-10-15T11:57:21.639Z verbose hostd[2107314] [Originator@6876 sub=Solo.Vmomi opID=<op-id> user=vpxuser:##\#######] Arg param1:
--> "<dvs-id> 68"
2025-10-15T11:57:21.639Z verbose hostd[2107314] [Originator@6876 sub=Solo.Vmomi opID=<op-id> user=vpxuser:##\#######] Arg param2:
--> (vim.dvs.HostDistributedVirtualSwitchManager.PortData) [
-->    (vim.dvs.HostDistributedVirtualSwitchManager.PortData) {
-->       portKey = "94####",
-->       portgroupKey = "dvportgroup-####",
  • /var/log/vmkernel.log
    2025-10-15T11:55:44.211Z cpu8:2100989 opID=<op-id>)NetDVS: 9066: Failed to clear global property com.vmware.etherswitch.lacp on DVS <dvs-id> as it is not set.
2025-10-15T11:55:44.211Z cpu8:2100989 opID=<op-id>)NetDVS: 9066: Failed to clear host property com.vmware.common.host.lacp.extraconfig on DVS <dvs-id> as it is not set.
2025-10-15T11:55:44.211Z cpu8:2100989 opID=<op-id>)NetDVS: 9066: Failed to clear global property com.vmware.etherswitch.mirrorSessions on DVS <dvs-id> as it is not set.
2025-10-15T11:55:44.211Z cpu8:2100989 opID=<op-id>)NetDVS: 9066: Failed to clear global property com.vmware.vswitch.pvlanMap on DVS <dvs-id> as it is not set.
2025-10-15T11:55:44.214Z cpu8:2100989 opID=<op-id>)NetDVS: 9464: Dissociate DVS <dvs-id> from proxy DvsPortset-#
• Distributed switch reports that the host is in out of sync with error.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi

Cause

A orphaned entry still exists in the Distributed Switch configuration within vCenter. This condition is due to an ESXi host being rebuilt without first completing the necessary DVS detachment procedure, leading to an 'out of sync' status that blocks further host management operations like removal or re-integration.

Resolution

Following steps were helped to resolve the issue:

1. Disconnect the ESXi host and remove from inventory.
2. Verify and confirm if the out of sync error is cleared from distributed switch.
3. Add the ESXi host back to vCenter inventory.
4. Add the host back to distributed switch.

Note: It is best to keep all the networking in standard switch before disconnecting the ESXi host from vCenter.