Virtual machine fails to power on after OVF import from another vCenter: "No host is compatible with the virtual machine" error

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

The virtual machine is imported from another vCenter using OVF (Open Virtualization Format).

The virtual machine can be powered on the ESXi host via the VMware Host Client.

In the /var/log/vmware/vpxd/vpxd.log file on the vCenter, the following information is observed:

<YYYY-MM-DD>T<HH:MM:SS> info vpxd[#####] [Originator@#### sub=VmCheck opID=########-#######-auto-#####-h5:########-##-##] CompatCheck results: (vim.vm.check.Result) [
-->    (vim.vm.check.Result) {
-->       vm = 'vim.VirtualMachine:########-####-####-####-############:vm-#####',
-->       host = 'vim.HostSystem:########-####-####-####-############:host-###',
-->       warning = (vmodl.MethodFault) [
-->          (vim.fault.CannotAccessNetwork) {
-->             device = "Network adapter 1",
-->             backing = "<NETWORK_NAME>",
-->             connected = false,
-->             network = 'vim.Network:########-####-####-####-############:network-###',
-->             msg = "",
-->          }
-->       ],
-->    }
--> ]

......

<YYYY-MM-DD>T<HH:MM:SS> error vpxd[#####] [Originator@#### sub=Default opID=########-#######-auto-#####-h5::########--##-##] [VpxLRO] -- ERROR task-####### --  -- <VM_NAME> -- Datacenter.ExecuteVmPowerOnLRO: :vim.fault.NoCompatibleHost
--> Result:
--> (vim.fault.NoCompatibleHost) {
-->    faultCause = (vmodl.MethodFault) null,
-->    faultMessage = (vmodl.LocalizableMessage) [
-->       (vmodl.LocalizableMessage) {
-->          key = "com.vmware.cdrs.placeVm.emptyCompatSet",
-->          arg = <unset>,
-->          message = <unset>
-->       }
-->    ],

In the /var/run/log/hostd.log file on the ESXi host, the following information is observed:

<YYYY-MM-DD>T<HH:MM:SS> Wa(###) Hostd[#######]: [Originator@#### sub=Vigor.Vmsvc.vm:/vmfs/volumes/<DATASTORE_NAME>/<VM_FOLDER>/<VM_NAME>.vmx opID=########-#######-auto-#####-h5:########-##-##-#### sid=######## user=vpxuser:<USER_NAME>] Unable to get network object for network <NETWORK_NAME>

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0.x

VMware vCenter Server 8.0.x

Cause

The port group (e.g., <NETWORK_NAME>) that the virtual machine's network adapter connects to is missing in the new vCenter and ESXi hosts.

Resolution

Connect the virtual machine's network adapter to an existing port group in the vCenter and power on the virtual machine.