NSX VIBs Cannot Be Removed Due to Legacy Dell PowerPath Dependency Error on ESXi 8.0 U3
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NSX VIBs Cannot Be Removed Due to Legacy Dell PowerPath Dependency Error on ESXi 8.0 U3

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Article ID: 419735

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Updated On:

Products

VMware NSX VMware vSphere ESX 8.x VMware vSphere ESX 7.x

Issue/Introduction

When attempting to unprepare an ESXi host from the NSX Manager, the NSX VIB removal process fails. This failure is triggered by a dependency conflict caused by an outdated Dell PowerPath VIB package that remained on the host after an upgrade from ESXi 7.0 U3 to 8.0 U3.

Error Details
The ESXi host logs show a vmware.esximage.Errors.DependencyError:

Er(11) esxupdate[2123974]: vmware.esximage.Errors.DependencyError: On platform embeddedEsx, VIB DEL_bootbank_powerpath.plugin.esx.esx7_8.0.0.00.00-1DEL.700.0.0.15525992 requires esx-version << 8.0.0, but the requirement cannot be satisfied within the ImageProfile.

Environment

VMware NSX

Cause

The error is caused by a legacy Dell PowerPath VIB package that is only compatible with ESXi 7.x versions:

  • VIB Name: DEL_bootbank_powerpath.plugin.esx.esx7_8.0.0.00.00-1DEL.700.0.0.15525992

  • VIB Identity: This VIB is the Dell PowerPath/VE CIM Plugin for ESXi 7.x .

  • Conflict: The VIB has an internal dependency check that specifically requires the ESXi version to be less than 8.0.0 (<< 8.0.0).

  • Impact: Since the ESXi host is now running 8.0 U3, the VIB manager cannot satisfy this dependency requirement. This state prevents any VIB deletion operation, including the removal of the NSX VIBs, because the VIB transaction cannot be completed successfully due to the underlying conflict.

Note: This issue is not specific to NSX VIBs; the conflicting Dell VIB prevents any VIB removal or modification process on the host.

Resolution

The resolution is to manually remove the incompatible Dell PowerPath VIB using the ESXi command line.

Prerequisite

  1. Place Host in Maintenance Mode: Ensure the ESXi host is in Maintenance Mode via vCenter/vSphere Client.

  2. Establish SSH Connection: Connect to the ESXi host via SSH.

Step 1: Identify and Remove the VIB

Use the esxcli command to list the PowerPath VIB and then attempt removal.

  1. List VIBs (Optional but Recommended):

    esxcli software vib list | grep powerpath

  2. Attempt Standard VIB Removal:

    esxcli software vib remove -n powerpath.plugin.esx.esx7

    (Note: Ensure you use the exact VIB name identified in the list command.)

Step 2: Force VIB Removal (If Step 1 Fails)

If the standard removal fails with the same DependencyError, use the --force flag to override the dependency checks.

CAUTION: Using the --force flag bypasses VIB integrity and dependency checks. This should only be used as a targeted fix for known conflict scenarios like this one.

esxcli software vib remove -n powerpath.plugin.esx.esx7 --force

Step 3: Reboot and Retry NSX Unprepare

  1. Reboot the ESXi host to finalize the VIB removal and load the clean profile.

    reboot

  2. After the host reboots, attempt the NSX Unprepare Host operation again from the NSX Manager UI or API.

Next Steps (Post-Resolution)

  • Once the NSX VIBs are successfully removed, if Dell PowerPath is required, download and install the latest Dell PowerPath/VE VIB compatible with ESXi 8.0 U3 from the Dell Support website.

  • If the issue persists after force removal and reboot, or if the force removal fails, please open a case with Broadcom Technical Support for further assistance.

Additional Information

This VIB is not compatible with ESXi 8.x and should be removed pre-upgrade.

https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article?articleNumber=381424

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