ESXi 5.5 host automatically goes into maintenance mode when rebooted and I am unable to manually enter host configuration

[JakeAlamdar]

Hello,

I am having an issue with my ESXi 5.5 host. I am running the following:

Host: DELL Power Edge R620

RAM: 48 GB

CPU: Dual Intel Xeon E5-2660 2.20GHz

Initial ESXi Version: ESXi v5.1 U1 (upgraded to 5.5 to get around RAM constrictions on the free licensing)

This issue is, ever since the upgrade to ESXi 5.5 every time I reboot the host it will reboot with maintenance mode enabled. This is a big problem for me as the VMs on the host are removed (as it is a stand alone host so it doesn't migrate the VMs to another host). Has anyone experienced this before?

The second issue is since the upgrade to ESXi 5.5 i am unable to enter the hosts settings manually (pressing F2 on the host to enter the IP address and VLANs and so on). Nothing happens, I have tried multiple key boards, different USB ports, made sure the USB ports are enabled (they do work as I can enter the BIOS).

I am not sure if I am over looking something very simple, but any help would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you require any more information.

Kind Regards,

-Jake

[herwonowr]

For first issue, you can check whether maintenance mode is active, use esxcli

# esxcli system maintenanceMode get

and for second issue. Is it possible to log in using the vSphere client?

[JakeAlamdar]

Hi herwonowr,

Thank you for the reply. Ok I have run that command  # esxcli system maintenanceMode get and maintenance mode is disabled.

I do have access to the vSphere client.

Cheers,

-Jake

[zXi_Gamer]

since the upgrade to ESXi 5.5 every time I reboot the host it will reboot with maintenance mode enabled

Going by the scenario that you are using plain install instead of autodeploy, can you check the /var/log/syslog.log file and look for "maintenance" word and find out which activity leads to host being in maintenance mode.?

Also, are the hosts upgraded by VUM?

[JakeAlamdar]

Hi zXi_Gamer,

I had a look at the logs, and I couldn't find anything with maintenance in it, I took a copy of it and ran a search on it.

No, I didn't use VUM to update the hosts. I did it manually.

Cheers,

-Jake