Network Configuration Reverted After Applying Host Profile

VMware vSphere ESXi

When remediating a Host Profile in VMware vSphere, customized network configurations, including Virtual Standard Switches (VSS), specific vmnic uplink ordering, LAG configurations, and VMkernel adapters are unexpectedly removed or reverted to a previous state.

VMware ESX
vCenter Server

This typically occurs when the Host Profile that is extracted from a specific host does not match the network configuration of the target host on which the host profile is being remediated.
The Host Profile acts as a configuration blueprint. If the Source Host (where the profile was extracted) does not have the additional standard switch or configuration, the remediation process tries to remove the additional vswitch configuration, revert the NIC order, Uplink settings etc., on the Target Host to match the Source Host profile setting.
Therefore, whenever a Host Profile is extracted from a particular host before specific networking changes are made, or if it is applied to a host with different uplink mappings or additional vswitch, or extra NFS datastore configured, the remediation process will do the following :-
- Overwrite any manual changes made since the profile was created.
- Delete any "extra" switches or VMkernel ports not defined in the profile.
- Re-order NICs to match the policy defined in the profile's "Network Configuration".

Pre-Remediation Checklist

Before proceeding with remediation, ensure the following:
- Host is in Maintenance Mode.
- All VMs have been migrated via vMotion or powered off.
- A recent Configuration Backup of the host has been taken. Kindly refer to this KB for backup/restore of an ESXi host configuration How to back up and restore the ESXi host configuration

Recommendation 1 :- (Exclude the network configuration from the Host Profile)

Recommendation 2:-

To ensure configuration alignment across the hosts in the cluster, synchronize the reference host's (from where the host profile was initially extracted) networking details including NIC ordering, LAG parameters, and any additional virtual switches prior to remediating the Host Profile.
Create a host profile that has the updated and required new configuration
- Right-click the host > Host Profiles > Extract Host Profile.
- Alternatively, right-click the existing profile and select Copy Settings from Host.
- Right-click target host > Host Profiles > Attach Host Profile.
- Right-click the host > Host Profiles > Edit Host Customizations.
- Carefully review IP addresses and other settings to ensure no IP conflicts occur on the network and the configuration is in-tact.
- Run a Check Host Profile Compliance scan.
- Click Remediate. This will now push the necessary switches, provisioning services, uplinks order and LAG configurations rather than removing them.

Open a support case with Broadcom if you need any further assistance via kb https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/142884

Refer to the below important articles regarding Host profile