Log Spew in vmkernel log "Attempt to setattr non sticky dir/file 'mili' from mounted tardisk 'elx_esx_.v00' "

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

After upgrading ESXi host from version 7.x to 8.x, /var/log/vmkernel.log file gets filled with the below events more frequently:

[YYYY-MM-DD]T[HH:MM:SS].806Z Wa(180) vmkwarning: cpu7:27839034)WARNING: VisorFS: 1095: Attempt to setattr non sticky dir/file "mili" from mounted tardisk "elx_esx_.v00"

Environment

• VMware vSphere ESXi 8.x

Cause

This is due to the inbox Emulex driver (elx-esx-libelxima.so) used. 

Resolution

Verify the presence of Emulex cards on the ESXi host. If no cards are detected, uninstall the driver. If cards are present, update to the latest async driver version.

1. Open an SSH session to the ESXi host.
   
   
2. Run the following commands to verify if any active network or storage adapters are utilizing the Emulex drivers:
   
   esxcli network nic list

esxcli storage core adapter list
   
   
3. If the commands above confirm that the driver is not in use, uninstall the VIB by running:
   
   esxcli software vib remove –n elx-esx-libelxima.so 
   
   Note: ESXi host reboot will be required after uninstalling the driver.
   
   
4. Alternatively, to update the driver refer KB: Download and install async drivers in VMware ESXi.

Additional Information

• Determining Network/Storage firmware and driver version in ESXi
• Download and install async drivers in VMware ESXi
• Finding IO Drivers in the Broadcom Support Portal