Error: 8273 Cannot enter maintenance mode for transport node due to VIF attached in VCF 9.x

Products

• VMware NSX

Issue/Introduction

• In a VCF 9.x environment, an ESXi Host Transport Node fails to enter maintenance mode when the operation is initiated from the NSX Manager UI. The operation fails with the following error:

  Cannot enter maintenance mode for transport node HostTransportNode/<path>/host-<id> due to <number> VIF(s) attached. (Error code: 8273)

Environment

• VCF Version: 9.x
  
  
• NSX Version: Integrated with VCF 9.x

Cause

In VCF 9.x, the NSX maintenance mode state is tightly coupled with vCenter Server. This error occurs when virtual machines (VMs) on the host fail to migrate automatically during the maintenance mode workflow.

Common blockers include:

• DRS Affinity Rules: "Must" or "Should" rules preventing VMs from moving to other hosts.
  
  
• Local Hardware Attachments: ISOs mounted from local datastores or hardware passthrough (e.g., GPU, USB).
  
  
• vSAN Data Migration Constraints: Insufficient resources or "Ensure Accessibility" failures.

Unlike legacy NSX-T versions, where this error often indicated a VIF calculation defect, in VCF 9.x it typically indicates a standard vSphere operational blocker that NSX surfaces as a VIF attachment error.

Resolution

To resolve this and correctly identify the blocking VM:

1. Switch to vSphere Client: Navigate to the vCenter Server UI.
   
   
2. Initiate Maintenance Mode: Select the Host > Maintenance Mode > Enter Maintenance Mode.
   
   
3. Monitor Recent Tasks: Review the "Enter Maintenance Mode" task details. The vCenter UI will explicitly list which VM(s) are failing to migrate and why (e.g., "Conflict with DRS Affinity Rule").
   
   
4. Remediate Blockers:
   
   
• Manually migrate pinned VMs.
  
  
• Temporarily disable or modify conflicting DRS Affinity Rules.
  
  
• Disconnect local ISOs or media.

Verify: Once the blockers are removed, the host will successfully enter maintenance mode in both vCenter and the NSX UI.

Additional Information

• To speak to a Technical Support Engineer, see KB 206567 - Contact Broadcom support.