Adding ESXi Host to vCenter fails with error: A specified parameter was not correct licenseKey

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi
• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• Adding a Standalone ESXi host or reconnecting a disconnected host to vCenter fails.
• The following error is observed in the vCenter UI > Monitor > Tasks:
  
  A specified parameter was not correct: licenseKey
  
  
  
  
• Under ESXi Host's /var/run/log/hostd.log, below error log snips are found:
  
  YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS Hostd[######]: [Originator@#### sub=Hbrsvc] Scheduler stopped due to license failure: (vim.fault.LicenseExpired) {
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS Hostd[######]: -->    licenseKey = "Invalid License: 00000-00000-00000-00000-00000",
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS Hostd[######]: -->    msg = "",
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS Hostd[######]: --> }
  
  
• Under vCenter's /var/log/vmware/vpxd/vpxd.log, below error log snips are found:
  
  YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS error vpxd[######] [Originator@#### sub=Default opID=########-#######-auto-####-h5:########-##] [VpxLRO] -- ERROR task-####### -- ########-####-####-####-############ -- group-####### -- vim.Folder.addStandaloneHost: :vmodl.fault.InvalidArgument
--> Result:
--> (vmodl.fault.InvalidArgument) {
-->    faultCause = (vmodl.MethodFault) null,
-->    faultMessage = <unset>,
-->    invalidProperty = "licenseKey"
-->    msg = "Received SOAP response fault from [<<cs p:############, TCP:localhost:####>, /ls/sdk>]: updateEntity
--> "
--> }
--> Args:
-->
--> Arg spec:
--> (vim.host.ConnectSpec) {
-->    hostName = "<ESXi-FQDN/IP Address>",
-->    port = <unset>,
-->    sslThumbprint = <unset>,
-->    sslCertificate = <unset>,
-->    userName = "root",
-->    password = (not shown),
-->    vmFolder = 'vim.Folder:########-####-####-####-############:group-#######',
-->    force = true,
-->    vimAccountName = "vpxuser",
-->    vimAccountPassword = (not shown),
-->    managementIp = <unset>,
-->    lockdownMode = "lockdownDisabled",
-->    hostGateway = (vim.host.GatewaySpec) null
--> }
--> Arg compResSpec:
-->
--> Arg addConnected:
--> true
--> Arg license:
--> "<LICENSE KEY>"

Environment

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware ESXi

Cause

The license key provided during the "Add Host" is invalid for the specific version of the ESXi host being added.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, use one of the following options:

Option 1 (Ensure the license key being entered matches the ESXi version):

1. Validate and Apply the Correct Key to the ESXi directly or during the ESXi Addition task in the vCenter.
2. Re-attempt the "Add Host" wizard using a known valid key.
   
   

Option 2 (If the ESXi host is in a lower version than the available license key, downgrade the License Key and apply):

1. Log in to the Broadcom Customer Support Portal.
2. Navigate to the licensing section and perform a Downgrade on the existing license key to match the major version of the target ESXi host. For more information, refer Upgrade and Downgrade VMware License Keys via the Broadcom support portal
3. Copy the downgraded key.
4. Retry adding the host to vCenter using the downgraded license key.
   
   

Option 3 (If the License Key is applicable for the higher version of the ESXi Host):

1. Upgrade ESXi Host to a version that is compatible with the existing valid license keys before adding it to the vCenter inventory. For more information, refer Upgrading ESXi Hosts
2. Retry adding the host to vCenter.

Additional Information

For License downgrading assistance, please contact Contact Support - Broadcom Software