VCF deployment fails Description fails at step: "Add ESXi Hosts to vSphere Distributed Switch"

Products

• VCF Operations

Issue/Introduction

• VCF deployment is trying to grab vmnic0 with Link Down state. 
  
  
• domainmanager.log errors adding vmnic

./domainmanager - second uplink is available.log-2026-01-06T16:15:59.633+0000 DEBUG [vcf_dm,] [c.v.v.c.f.p.a.i.AddHostsToDvsAction,dm-exec-13]  uplink, to be connected with vmnic vmnicX, is not among uplinks connected with management portgroup [] in DVS 

./domainmanager - second uplink is available.log-2026-01-06T16:15:59.633+0000 WARN  [vcf_dm,] [c.v.v.c.f.p.a.i.AddHostsToDvsAction,dm-exec-13]  Vmnic vmnicX cannot be added to DVS  since it is in use

./domainmanager - second uplink is available.log:2026-01-06T16:15:59.633+0000 WARN  [vcf_dm,] [c.v.v.c.f.p.a.i.AddHostsToDvsAction,dm-exec-13]  Cannot add host  to dvs , as free vmnics are not available on the host

Environment

VCF 9.x

Cause

Incorrect uplinks mapped in Deploy VCF Fleet.

Resolution

Map desired uplinks as needed.

Additional Information

Start a New vSphere Foundation Deployment by Using the VCF Installer Deployment Wizard.

You can use the VCF Planning and Preparation Workbook for sizing your environment, as a dynamic VCF environment specification, for updating requirements according your design, and more.

The workbook is a Microsoft Excel workbook that helps you gather the inputs required for deploying a VCF fleet including workload domains, VCF Identity Broker, vSphere Supervisor, and VCF Automation.