Error: "License assignment failed for this host" during host upgrade to 9.1

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi
• VCF Operations
• VMware Cloud Foundation

Issue/Introduction

• After upgrading ESXi hosts to version 9.1, the vSphere Client displays a warning banner stating: "License assignment failed for this host."
  
• The following error sequence is observed in the vCenter /var/log/vmware/vpxd/vpxd.log and /var/log/vmware/cis-license/license.log logs when the host rejects the legacy token format: 

  INFO vpxd #### [vc@#### sub="licenseClient" opID="HeartbeatStartHandler-########-########"] Assign license to host: '<HOSTNAME>'
  WARNING vpxd #### [vc@#### sub="licenseClient" opID="HeartbeatStartHandler-########-########"] Failed request to VAPI service; Error:
  -->    com.vmware.vapi.std.errors.invalid_argument
  --> Messages:
  -->    com.vmware.esx.licensing.entitlements.invalid_or_malformed_token<Invalid or malformed entitlement token.>
  ERROR vpxd #### [vc@#### sub="licenseClient" opID="HeartbeatStartHandler-########-########"] License was unsuccessfully set on host: <HOSTNAME> with error: Error:
  -->    com.vmware.vapi.std.errors.invalid_argument
  --> Messages:
  -->    com.vmware.esx.licensing.entitlements.invalid_or_malformed_token<Invalid or malformed entitlement token.>

 

Environment

• VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.1
• VMware vCenter Server 9.1
• VMware ESXi 9.1

Cause

During an ESXi host upgrade to version 9.1, a timing sequence mismatch occurs where vCenter Server initially attempts to push a legacy 9.0 formatted license payload to the host. The upgraded 9.1 host rejects the legacy token due to new cryptographic signature requirements enforced by the 9.1 License Server appliance.

Resolution

 This issue is targeted to be resolved in an upcoming release. To stay updated on the fix status, subscribe to this article.

1. No administrative remediation is required to restore host licensing.
2. Allow several minutes to pass after the ESXi host upgrade completes. The vCenter cis-license service automatically fetches the updated 9.1 license format and applies it in a subsequent synchronization cycle.
3. Ignore the temporary warning banner in the vSphere Client during this automated synchronization period.