Upgrading ESXi is resulting in error : Error in upgrading config /usr/lib/vmware/configmanager/upgrade/lib/libupgradevmknicconfig.so

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• During an upgrade of ESXi host using VLCM, fails with error - Error in upgrading config /usr/lib/vmware/configmanager/upgrade/lib/libupgradevmknicconfig.so

             

 

• On the ESXi host, /var/log/configstore-upgrade.log

xxxx-xx-xxTxx:xx:xx.xxxZ In(05) host-xxxxxx info [ConfigStore:31eb4e7680][2097869][/usr/lib/vmware/configmanager/upgrade/lib/libupgradevmknicconfig.so] Invoking upgrade.
xxxx-xx-xxTxx:xx:xx.xxxZ In(05) host-xxxxxx info [ConfigStore:31eb4e7680] [2097869][/usr/lib/vmware/configmanager/upgrade/lib/libupgradevmknicconfig.so] Invoking UpgradeConfig
xxxx-xx-xxTxx:xx:xx.xxxZ Wa(03) host-xxxxxx esx.conf miss required property before upgrade: dhcp dhcpDns dhcpv6 routAdv enable netstackInstance
xxxx-xx-xxTxx:xx:xx.xxxZ In(05) host-xxxxxx info [ConfigStore:31eb4e7680] [cs:1:1804289383]BeginTransaction invoked.
xxxx-xx-xxTxx:xx:xx.xxxZ In(05) host-xxxxxx info [ConfigStore:31eb4e7680] [cs:1:1804289383]Transaction started, level = 1
xxxx-xx-xxTxx:xx:xx.xxxZ In(05) host-xxxxxx info [ConfigStore:31eb4e7680] [cs:1:1804289383]CancelTransaction invoked.
xxxx-xx-xxTxx:xx:xx.xxxZ In(05) host-xxxxxx info [ConfigStore:31eb4e7680] [cs:1:1804289383]Transaction cancelled,level = 1
xxxx-xx-xxTxx:xx:xx.xxxZ Er(02) host-xxxxxx Upgrade failed: InstanceId not found:
xxxx-xx-xxTxx:xx:xx.xxxZ Er(02) host-xxxxxx error [ConfigStore:31eb4e7680] [2097869][/usr/lib/vmware/configmanager/upgrade/lib/libupgradevmknicconfig.so] Upgrade failed rc: 1

 

Environment

 VMware ESXi
7.x

 VMware ESXi
8.x

Cause

During the upgrade from ESXi 7.x to 8.x, the configmanager merges the host’s configuration from multiple sources into the configstore.

If any duplicated configuration items are inconsistent, the configmanager upgrade process will fail.

Resolution

1. Reboot the host to bring it back online.

2. Check configstore-upgrade.log to identify the failing module and config key (e.g., libupgradevmknicconfig, key port_group).
   Compare /etc/vmware/esx.conf with other hosts and review shell.log for commands that caused the inconsistent configuration.

3. Edit the file /etc/vmware/esx.conf and remove the inconsistent entry

   Example:

   /net/vmkernelnic/child[0006]/dhcpDns6 = "false"
   /net/vmkernelnic/child[0000]/portgroup = "q"   <<<---------- Entry causing inconsitency
   ...
   /net/vmkernelnic/child[0006]/dhcpv6 = "false"
   /net/vmkernelnic/child[0006]/enable = "true"
   /net/vmkernelnic/child[0006]/name = "vmk0"

4. Retry the upgrade