ESXi fails to load image from Auto Deploy with the error "Could not boot image: Connection timed out"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• Auto Deploy is configured for ESXi to load image to boot stateless.
• PXE boot loader fails to load image due to Connection timed out of /vmw/rbd/tramp of Auto Deploy service:
  
  Configuring (net0 <mac-address>)............ ok
net0: <dhcp-assigned-ip>/<subnet-mask> gw <gateway-ip>
net0: <ipv6-address>/64
Next server: <tftp-server-ip>
Filename: tramp
tftp://<tftp-server-ip>/tramp... ok
tramp : 109 bytes [script]
https://<vcenter-server-ip>:6501/vmw/rbd/tramp.............. Connection timed out (http://ipxe.org/4c0a6092)
Could not boot image: Connection timed out (http://ipxe.org/4c0a6092)


• Host has two physical network adapters which have been configured with LACP in physical switch. 

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 8.0.x
VMware vCenter Server 9.0.x

Cause

The IP address of host from DHCP server when PXE boot loader initiated is assigned to the first network adapter. However due to the LACP the address was bond to the second network adapter that will cause the IP address lost. 

Resolution

Remove LACP for the physical network adapters of host in physical switch. Contact network vendor about how to remove LACP.