Trying to update from HPE ESXi 6.5 U2 to U3 - cannot be live installed error

[pk95]

I’m trying to update to U3 of ESXi 6.5, and am getting the following error:

[root@Gen8:~] esxcli software vib install -d "/vmfs/volumes/SSD/images/VMware-ESXi-6.5.0-Update3-14990892-HPE-preGen9-650.U3.9.6.10.1-Dec2019-depot.zip"                                                       

  [StatelessError]                                                                                     

The transaction is not supported: VIB VMW_bootbank_vmkusb_0.1-1vmw.650.3.96.13932383 cannot be live installed. VIB HPE_bootbank_oem-build_650.U3.9.6.10-4240417 cannot be live installed. VIB VMW_bootbank_bnxtnet_20.6.101.7-23vmw.650.3.96.13932383 cannot be live installed. VIB VMW_bootbank_ixgben_1.7.1.15-1vmw.650.3.96.13932383 cannot be live installed. VIB VMW_bootbank_smartpqi_1.0.1.553-28vmw.650.3.96.13932383 cannot be live installed. VIB VMW_bootbank_igbn_0.1.1.0-4vmw.650.3.96.13932383 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.108.14990892 cannot be live installed. VIB VMW_bootbank_lsi-msgpt35_09.00.00.00-5vmw.650.3.96.13932383 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_cpu-microcode_6.5.0-3.108.14990892 cannot be live installed. VIB VMW_bootbank_nvme_1.2.2.28-1vmw.650.3.96.13932383 cannot be live installed. VIB VMW_bootbank_ne1000_0.8.3-8vmw.650.2.75.10884925 cannot be live installed. VIB VMW_bootbank_misc-drivers_6.5.0-3.96.13932383 cannot be live installed. VIB VMW_bootbank_ntg3_4.1.3.2-1vmw.650.2.75.10884925 cannot be live installed. VIB VMW_bootbank_nenic_1.0.29.0-1vmw.650.3.96.13932383 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_lsu-lsi-drivers-plugin_1.0.0-1vmw.650.2.79.11925212 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_esx-tboot_6.5.0-3.108.14990892 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_lsu-lsi-lsi-msgpt3-plugin_1.0.0-8vmw.650.2.79.11925212 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_vsan_6.5.0-3.108.14833668 cannot be live installed. VIB VMware_bootbank_lsu-hp-hpsa-plugin_2.0.0-16vmw.650.3.96.13932383 cannot be live installed. VIB VMW_bootbank_i40en_1.8.1.9-2vmw.650.3.96.13932383 cannot be live installed. VIB VMW_bootbank_lsi-mr3_7.708.07.00-3vmw.650.3.96.13932383 cannot be live installed. VIB VMW_bootbank_lsi-msgpt3_17.00.02.00-1vmw.650.3.96.13932383 cannot be live installed. VIB VMW_bootbank_vmw-ahci_1.1.6-1vmw.650.3.96.13932383 cannot be live installed. VIB VMW_bootbank_nenic_1.0.0.2-1vmw.650.0.0.4564106 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.57.9298722 cannot be removed live. VIB VMW_bootbank_ntg3_4.1.3.0-1vmw.650.1.36.7388607 cannot be removed live. VIB VMW_bootbank_lsi-msgpt3_16.00.01.00-1vmw.650.2.50.8294253 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_esx-tboot_6.5.0-2.57.9298722 cannot be removed live. VIB VMW_bootbank_bnxtnet_20.6.101.7-11vmw.650.2.50.8294253 cannot be removed live. VIB VMW_bootbank_i40en_1.3.1-19vmw.650.2.50.8294253 cannot be removed live. VIB VMW_bootbank_lsi-mr3_7.702.13.00-3vmw.650.2.50.8294253 cannot be removed live. VIB VMW_bootbank_vmw-ahci_1.1.1-1vmw.650.2.50.8294253 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_cpu-microcode_6.5.0-2.57.9298722 cannot be removed live. VIB VMW_bootbank_igbn_0.1.0.0-15vmw.650.1.36.7388607 cannot be removed live. VIB VMware_bootbank_vsan_6.5.0-2.57.9152287 cannot be removed live. VIB VMW_bootbank_ne1000_0.8.3-7vmw.650.2.50.8294253 cannot be removed live. VIB HPE_bootbank_hpe-build_650.U2.9.6.8-4240417 cannot be removed live. VIB VMW_bootbank_nvme_1.2.1.34-1vmw.650.2.50.8294253 cannot be removed live. VIB VMW_bootbank_misc-drivers_6.5.0-2.50.8294253 cannot be removed live. VIB VMW_bootbank_smartpqi_1.0.1.553-10vmw.650.2.50.8294253 cannot be removed live. VIB VMW_bootbank_lsi-msgpt35_03.00.01.00-9vmw.650.2.50.8294253 cannot be removed live. VIB VMW_bootbank_ixgben_1.4.1-12vmw.650.2.50.8294253 cannot be removed live.       

The server is in maintenance mode.

ESXi is installed on a USB stick (8gb).

From my searching on this problem, the issue may be that my /bootbank or /altbootbank are corrupt.

Is there a painless way to fix this?   

[1337Thomas]

hi,

please check if you have an dl360p or 380p. The E models do not support u3.

VMware from HPE Certification and Support | Hewlett Packard Enterprise

[VivekThacker]

Hello,

From the error message it seems that the bootbank is pointing to temp.

Are if you are using nimble storage with Nimble Connection Manager(NCM) installed.

Also try to reseat the USB and check are you still facing the same issue.

[pk95]

Thanks for replying.

NCM is not installed.  I tried to install it, but received the same error:

[root@Gen8:/var/log] esxcli software vib install -d https://update.nimblestorage.com/esx6.5/ncm

[StatelessError]

The transaction is not supported: VIB Nimble_bootbank_nimble-ncs_6.1.0-650002 cannot be live installed.

The USB appears to be seated properly.

[rwk1982]

You can try:

- Update the iLO to the latest version (always a good idea)

- NAND format the iLO

- Power Off the Server, boot it from the HPE Custom ESXi ISO and do a "offline" update