NSX transport node realization fails during VCF 9.1 deployment due to expired evaluation license

Products

• VMware NSX

Issue/Introduction

• When attempting to deploy VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.1 using the VCF Installer, the deployment fails during the NSX configuration stage.
• An error similar to the following is visible in the VCF Installer UI:
  
  One or more transport node(s) realization failed while creating the transport node collection with profile #### on compute collection #### through NSX Manager ####.Reference Token: S8J92N
  
  
• In the NSX UI on the System > Fabric > Hosts > Clusters page, one or more hosts have an NSX Configuration status of "Install Failed".
• The host client for the affected hosts shows a banner that states, "Your license for ESX has expired."
• Review of the /var/run/log/hostd.log on the affected ESXi host shows license expiration messages:
  
  WARNING Hostd #### [esx@#### sub="Hbrsvc"] Scheduler stopped due to license failure: (vim.fault.LicenseExpired)
key = "com.vmware.vim.license.error.evalPeriodOver"
• The esxcli software vib list command shows that the software on the host was installed at a date in the future. The current date on the host is prior to the initial installation date.

Environment

VCF 9.1

Cause

ESX was installed when the date om the host was at a point in the future. The date was subsequently corrected which rendered the 90-day evaluation license on the host invalid. With an invalid license, the host will be rendered non-functional. 

Resolution

1. Log in to the ESXi Host Client for the affected host.
2. Disable NTP under Host > Configure > Time Configuration.
3. Manually set the system date to a value within 90 days of the date the host was originally installed (e.g., set the clock forward several months).
4. Place the host into Maintenance Mode.
5. Reboot the host.
6. After the reboot, exit Maintenance Mode and verify the license status no longer shows as "Expired".
7. Return to the VCF Installer UI and click Retry on the failed task.
8. Once the VCF 9.1 deployment completes, apply valid licenses via the VCF Operations console.
9. After valid licenses are applied, re-enable NTP and restore the correct current date on the ESXi host.

Additional Information

VCF Installer 9.1 will allow a host with an expired license to be used during installation