NSX failed to prepare ESXi host as transport node Error: Failed to open/read local data from file/application

Products

• VMware NSX

Issue/Introduction

• When onboarding a new ESXi host to NSX managed vSphere cluster, NSX manager will prepare the ESXi host by installing NSX-LCP component.
• You may see the following error message:

Failed to install software on host. Pushing NSX depot(s) on Compute Manager: <CM-UUID> failed with error: Error while logging into VCcom.vmware.nsx.management.ovfops.exception.CommandExecutionFailed: Failed to open/read local data from file/application . Retry Transport Node Collection at cluster.

• Compute Manager's connection is working and no other connection issues with CM and NSX managers.
• Checking NSX manager log /var/log/proton/nsxapi.log

2025-11-14T15:35:49.712Z  INFO ActivityWorkerPool-1-7 VLCMOperationsServiceImpl 1945091 FABRIC [nsx@6876 comp="nsx-manager" level="INFO" subcomp="manager"] pushOfflineDepot pushing depot file /repository/4.2.1.1.0.24405893/HostComponents/esx80/nsx-lcp-4.2.1.1.0.24405894-esx80.zip with size 0

2025-11-14T15:35:49.712Z  INFO ActivityWorkerPool-1-7 VLCMOperationsServiceImpl 1945091 FABRIC [nsx@6876 comp="nsx-manager" level="INFO" subcomp="manager"] Executing curl command curl -k  --connect-timeout 30 --max-time 300  -F file-size=0 -F file-type=Host  -F file-data=@/repository/4.2.1.1.0.24405893/HostComponents/esx80/nsx-lcp-4.2.1.1.0.24405894-esx80.zip --cookie JSESSIONID=<###>;vmware_soap_session="<Session-UUID>" https://<vCenter>:9087/vum-fileupload/upload/ -w "%{http_code}"

2025-11-14T15:35:49.778Z  INFO ActivityWorkerPool-1-7 ExecuteCommandHelper 1945091 FABRIC [nsx@6876 comp="nsx-manager" level="INFO" subcomp="manager"] Command executed with exit code 26. Error: curl: (26) Failed to open/read local data from file/application

2025-11-14T15:35:49.779Z  INFO ActivityWorkerPool-1-7 VLCMOperationsServiceImpl 1945091 FABRIC [nsx@6876 comp="nsx-manager" level="INFO" subcomp="manager"] pushOfflineDepot Operation failed with error :  Failed to open/read local data from file/application

• The above log indicates the curl command failed to find the file to send to the vCenter in preparation of host onboarding. 
• In NSX Manager's /repository folder, there is no matching folder with the filename in the error message.  In this example the folder name would be: /repository/4.2.1.1.0.24405893
• Other folders with similar NSX version but different build numbers may exist. This error occurs because the specific build number is missing and needs to be restored.

Environment

VMware NSX

Cause

The folder name was changed or the folder is missing. 

Resolution

To resolve this issue following the below steps:

1. If the folder name was changed and still exists under /repository folder, change it to the original folder name matching the log output error.
2. If the folder is missing, please open a Broadcom Support Request and reference to this KB.