Unable to mount NFS datastore after ESXi patching due to missing Cisco VIBs.

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

After patching an ESXi, the host is unable to mount an NFS datastore backed by Cisco HyperFlex storage.

• Issue observed only on patched hosts
• Other non-patched hosts continue to access the datastore without issues
• Network connectivity to the NFS server is successful (ping works)

In var/run/log/vmkernel.log you will see the below events
2026-03-22T06:40:19.913Z vmkernel: cpu10:98666 opID=860a3a)StorageApdHandler: 658: APD Handle d2781c1d-c00ee586 Created with lock[StorageApd-0x2894167961b0]
2026-03-22T06:40:19.916Z vmkernel: cpu10:98666 opID=860a3a)StorageApdHandler: 151: Freeing APD handle 0x2894167961b0 [d2781c1d-c00ee586]
2026-03-22T06:41:22.023Z vmkernel: cpu10:98666 opID=860a3a)StorageApdHandler: 115: APD Handle freed!
2026-03-22T06:41:44.504Z vmkernel: cpu10:98666 opID=860a3a)NFS: 3500: NFS mount failed for ##.##.##.##:/######/###### volume ######. Status: Unable to connect to NFS server.

The /var/run/log/hostd.log file on the ESXi host also confirms that the host is unable to connect to NFS server.
2026-03-22T06:40:19.916Z Hostd[18523658]: [Originator@6876 sub=Solo.Vmomi opID=####-####-####-####-##:####-##-##-### sid=##### user=vpxuser:###\######] Result:
2026-03-22T06:41:22.023Z Hostd[18523658]: --> (vim.fault.PlatformConfigFault) {
2026-03-22T06:41:22.023Z Hostd[18523658]: -->    faultMessage = (vmodl.LocalizableMessage) [
2026-03-22T06:41:44.504Z Hostd[18523658]: -->       (vmodl.LocalizableMessage) {
2026-03-22T06:41:46.64Z Hostd[18523658]: -->          key = "com.vmware.esx.hostctl.default",
2026-03-22T06:41:46.300Z Hostd[18523658]: -->          arg = (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) [
2026-03-22T06:41:46.540Z Hostd[18523658]: -->             (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) {
2026-03-22T06:41:46.763Z Hostd[18523658]: -->                value = "Mount failed: Unable to complete Sysinfo operation.  Please see the VMkernel log file for more details.: Unable to connect to NFS server: VSI node (5001:) 

Environment

VMware Esxi 8.x

Cisco Hyperflex

Cause

The issue occurs due to missing Cisco-specific VIBs on the ESXi host after patching. Below are the missing VIBs as confirmed by Cisco.

Components	Host Version
STFS NAS VAAI Module for ESX Server	5.5.1-17
Cisco Hyperflex Management Service/Tools	5.5.1- Build 30
ScvmClient Daemon for VMware ESX	5.5.1-Build 63
HX Hypervisor agent service for storage configuration and monitoring	5.5-Build 29

Resolution

 

1. Install the required Cisco VIBs manually on the affected ESXi host.
2. Retry mounting the NFS datastore.