ESXi host Distributed Power Management (DPM) task fails with Error: "A specified parameter was not correct: ipmilnfo"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• When attempting to update IPMI or iLO information for Distributed Power Management (DPM), the task fails with the following error message in the vSphere Client:

Task        Name Update IPMI or ILO information used by DPM
Status      A specified parameter was not correct: ipmilnfo
Initiator   <user>
Target      <ESXi host hostname>
Server      <vCenter server hostname>

• The vCenter Server /var/log/vmware/vpxd.log contains entries similar to:

YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS error vpxd[###] [Originator@#### sub=Default opID=mnduskwo-#######-auto-#####-h5:########-##] hpilo_pm: ILO MAC string not found
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS error vpxd[###] [Originator@#### sub=MoHost opID=mnduskwo-#######-auto-#####-h5:########-##] ILO lib: GetMacAddr call failed; error: 128 ('MISMATCHED_BMC_MAC_ADDR')

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 8.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.x

vCenter Server 7.x
vCenter Server 8.x

Cause

This issue occurs when the Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) settings, such as IPMI Over LAN, are disabled within the hardware management interface (e.g., iDRAC, iLO), preventing vCenter from communicating with the host's power management hardware.

Resolution

Enable IPMI Over LAN in the hardware management interface and reconfigure Power Management in vCenter.

Step 1: Enable IPMI Over LAN in iDRAC:

1. Log in to the iDRAC UI.
2. Navigate to iDRAC Settings.
3. Select Connectivity.
4. Locate IPMI Settings.
5. Change the Enable IPMI Over LAN setting from Disabled to Enabled.
6. Save the changes.

Step 2: Reconfigure Power Management in vSphere, Perform this procedure on each host to enable DPM:

1. Browse to the host in the vSphere Client.
2. Select the Configure tab.
3. Under System, select Power Management.
4. Click Edit.
5. Enter the following information:
   • User name and password for a BMC account with remote power-on privileges.
   • IP address of the NIC associated with the BMC (static or DHCP with infinite lease).
   • MAC address of the NIC associated with the BMC.
6. Click OK.