Upgrade ESXi 8.x to 9.x failed with error MEL DependencyError

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• When attempting to update an ESXi host using an HPE custom image profile, the update fails with a dependency error.
  The ESXi host successfully lists the available image profile from the HPE custom depot ZIP file. However, during the esxcli software profile update operation, the process terminates with a DependencyError related to incompatible VIB requirements.
  
  [DependencyError]
On platform embeddedEsx, VIB MEL_bootbank_nmst-XXXX requires esx-version < 8.1.0, but the requirement cannot be satisfied within the ImageProfile.
On platform embeddedEsx, VIB MEL_bootbank_mft-oem-XXXX requires esx-version < 8.1.0, but the requirement cannot be satisfied within the ImageProfile.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 8.x
VMware vSphere ESX 9.x

Cause

The HPE custom image contains Mellanox (MEL) VIBs that explicitly require an ESXi version lower than 8.1.0.
Since the target image is based on ESXi 9.0, the ESXi version requirement defined in these VIBs cannot be satisfied, causing the profile update to fail.

Resolution

Consult HPE to confirm whether the identified VIBs can be safely removed, as the ESXi image in use is an HPE OEM custom ESXi image.
Clarification is required from HPE on whether these Mellanox-related VIBs are mandatory components of the HPE OEM image, or if they can be excluded without impacting hardware compatibility, supportability, or system stability.