Unable to rename the iSCSI initiator on the ESXi host

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• When you try to rename the iSCSI software adapter initiator name (WWN) from the vSphere Client on ESXi host, it does not change.
• You get an error message similar to:
  
  Call "HostStorageSystem.UpdateInternetScsiName" for object "storageSystem-3981" on vCenter Server failed.
  Operation failed, diagnostics report: iScsiLibException: status(c0000000): Invalid parameter; Message= IMA_VMW_SetNodeName

Environment

VMware ESXi 6.X
VMware ESXi 7.x 
VMware ESXi 8.x 

Resolution

To resolve the issue, ensure no invalid characters are present in the host profile user defined name for iSCSI adapter.

If name is validated and error persists, change the iSCSI initiator name (WWN) from the command line:

esxcli iscsi adapter set -n <insertNewIQNname> -A vmhbaxx

Where vmhbaxx is the name of the adapter for which you want to change the name.

For Example:

esxcli iscsi adapter set -n iqn.1998-01.com.vmware:esxi02-468fd415 -A vmhba64

Additional Information

To list adapters (and find which one is software iSCSI) on the host, run this command:

esxcli storage core adapter list