Error: Cannot find vSphere HA master agent after vCenter 8.0 Update 3a upgrade due to vmware_f.00 file lock and pending esxupdate reboot lock.
Article ID: 454251
Updated On:
Products
Issue/Introduction
- After upgrading vCenter Server to 8.0 Update 3k (Build 8.0.3.01000-25600417), vSphere HA fails to configure on ESXi hosts within a vSAN cluster with the error "Cannot find vSphere HA master agent."
- vSphere HA cluster availability and failover services are temporarily disrupted.
- Storage space checks via SSH (df -h and vdf -h) show no disk space contention on affected ESXi hosts.
- The error observed on each host in var/run/log/esxupdate.log:
Could not install image profile: VMware_bootbank_vmware-fdm_8.0.x-xxxxxxxxx: VMware_bootbank_vmware-fdm_8.0.x-xxxxxxxx: Failed to unmount tardisk vmware_f.v00 of VIB VMware_bootbank_vmware-fdm_8.0.3-xxxxxxxx: Error in running [/bin/rm /tardisks/vmware_f.v00]: Return code: 1 Output: rm: can't remove '/tardisks/vmware_f.v00': Device or resource busy It is not safe to continue. Please reboot the host immediately to discard the unfinished update.
Environment
VMware vCenter Server 8.x
VMware ESXi 8.x
VMware vSAN
Resolution
File a Support Request with Broadcom Support to review logs and investigate the root-cause of the issue: Contact Broadcom Support KB Article.
Workaround:
Perform a sequential reboot of each affected ESXi host to clear the vmware_f.00 file lock and complete the esxupdate package installation.
Log in to the vSphere Client.
Navigate to Cluster > Configure > vSphere Availability.
Click Edit, clear the Enable vSphere HA checkbox, and click OK.
Select the first ESXi host in the cluster.
Right-click the host and select Maintenance Mode > Enter Maintenance Mode.
Select Ensure Accessibility for vSAN data availability and click OK.
Restart the ESXi host.
After the host completes the boot process, exit Maintenance Mode by right-clicking the host and selecting Maintenance Mode > Exit Maintenance Mode.
Repeat steps 4 through 8 sequentially for each remaining ESXi host in the cluster, one host at a time.
Navigate to Cluster > Configure > vSphere Availability.
Click Edit, check the Enable vSphere HA checkbox, and click OK.
Monitor the cluster tasks to confirm vSphere HA configures successfully across all hosts.
Additional Information
For related vSphere HA configuration errors post-upgrade, see Error: Cannot find vSphere HA master agent (KB 313044) and KB 374242.
Feedback
