Error: "Controller driver is not VMware certified" Skyline Health issue during ESXi host upgrade

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

When you attempt to upgrade ESXi hosts, Skyline Health reports the issue "Controller driver is not VMware certified." This occurs after manually adding the Broadcom 12Gbps SAS/PCIe HBA driver (lsi_msgpt35) version 35.00.00 to the cluster image.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0.x

Cause

This issue occurs because version 35.00.00 of the lsi_msgpt35 driver is not currently supported or listed in the Broadcom Compatibility Guide. The maximum supported version for this controller is 33.00.00.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, you must downgrade the driver to the supported version 33.00.00:

1. Identify the ESXi hosts within the cluster reporting the Skyline Health alert.
2. Remove the unsupported lsi_msgpt35 version 35.00.00 driver from the cluster image.
3. Add the supported version 33.00.00 to the image or host.
4. For detailed procedural steps on performing a driver downgrade, see Downgrading device drivers in VMware ESXi.
5. Re-run the Skyline Health checks to verify the issue is resolved.