Upgrade to 6.5 broke ESXi server (503 error - hostd / Connection failure)

[stefanomarss]

Hello, I just upgraded to ESXi 6.5 and now the server no longer works;

Trying to remotely connect to the server (eg. through fusion or the embedded web host vib) results in a 503 error.

Any use of esxcli commands results in "Connect to localhost failed: Connection failure." errors

I'm just using a free license and it looks like I cannot create a support request.

Any idea of what could be happening?

Thanks for any help, logs follow

connecting through the shell - which was enabled since before - i can see the following in the vmkernel.log

tail -f /var/log/vmkernel.log

2017-04-03T11:10:30.235Z cpu3:78470)UserDump: 3172: hostd: Userworld(hostd) coredump complete.

2017-04-03T11:10:30.914Z cpu11:78757)User: 3089: hostd: wantCoreDump:hostd signal:6 exitCode:0 coredump:enabled

2017-04-03T11:10:31.109Z cpu11:78757)UserDump: 3024: hostd: Dumping cartel 78757 (from world 78757) to file /var/core/hostd-zdump.000 ...

2017-04-03T11:12:01.260Z cpu1:78757)UserDump: 3172: hostd: Userworld(hostd) coredump complete.

2017-04-03T11:12:01.947Z cpu10:79042)User: 3089: hostd: wantCoreDump:hostd signal:6 exitCode:0 coredump:enabled

2017-04-03T11:12:02.147Z cpu10:79042)UserDump: 3024: hostd: Dumping cartel 79042 (from world 79042) to file /var/core/hostd-zdump.001 ...

2017-04-03T11:13:07.965Z cpu4:66407)ScsiDeviceIO: 2948: Cmd(0x4395006f4d00) 0x1a, CmdSN 0x767 from world 0 to dev "naa.60026b904bcb78001291f9f5098ceed7" failed H:0x0 D:0x2 P:0x0 Valid sense data: 0x5 0x24 0x0.

2017-04-03T11:13:32.167Z cpu11:79042)UserDump: 3172: hostd: Userworld(hostd) coredump complete.

2017-04-03T11:13:32.829Z cpu7:79323)User: 3089: hostd: wantCoreDump:hostd signal:6 exitCode:0 coredump:enabled

2017-04-03T11:13:33.026Z cpu7:79323)UserDump: 3024: hostd: Dumping cartel 79323 (from world 79323) to file /var/core/hostd-zdump.002 ...

2017-04-03T11:15:01.583Z cpu6:79323)UserDump: 3172: hostd: Userworld(hostd) coredump complete.

2017-04-03T11:15:02.283Z cpu1:79611)User: 3089: hostd: wantCoreDump:hostd signal:6 exitCode:0 coredump:enabled

2017-04-03T11:15:02.477Z cpu1:79611)UserDump: 3024: hostd: Dumping cartel 79611 (from world 79611) to file /var/core/hostd-zdump.003 ...

and this is an extract of /var/log/hostd

2017-04-03T11:34:31.319Z warning hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Unrecognized log/level '' using 'info'

2017-04-03T11:34:31.319Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Logging uses fast path: true

2017-04-03T11:34:31.319Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] Could not expand environment variable HOME.

2017-04-03T11:34:31.319Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] Could not expand environment variable HOME.

2017-04-03T11:34:31.319Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "/usr/lib/vmware/config": No such file or directory.

2017-04-03T11:34:31.319Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "~/.vmware/config": No such file or directory.

2017-04-03T11:34:31.319Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "~/.vmware/preferences": No such file or directory.

2017-04-03T11:34:31.319Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] The bora/lib logs WILL be handled by VmaCore

2017-04-03T11:34:31.319Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Initialized channel manager

2017-04-03T11:34:31.319Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Current working directory: /var/log/vmware

2017-04-03T11:34:31.320Z info hostd[6E25B70] [Originator@6876 sub=ThreadPool] Thread enlisted

2017-04-03T11:34:31.320Z info hostd[6E66B70] [Originator@6876 sub=ThreadPool] Thread enlisted

2017-04-03T11:34:31.320Z info hostd[6EA7B70] [Originator@6876 sub=ThreadPool] Thread enlisted

2017-04-03T11:34:31.320Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=ThreadPool] Thread pool on asio: Min Io, Max Io, Min Task, Max Task, Max Concurency: 2, 52, 2, 22, 2147483647

2017-04-03T11:34:31.320Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=ThreadPool] Thread enlisted

2017-04-03T11:34:31.320Z info hostd[6EE8B70] [Originator@6876 sub=ThreadPool] Thread enlisted

2017-04-03T11:34:31.320Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Syscommand enabled: true

2017-04-03T11:34:31.320Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] ReaperManager Initialized

2017-04-03T11:34:31.320Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying blklistsvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.320Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying cbrcsvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.320Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying cimsvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.320Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying directorysvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.320Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying guestsvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.320Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying hostsvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying solo

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying vimsvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying vmsvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying hbrsvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying hostspecsvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying proxysvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying httpnfcsvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying internalsvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying nfcsvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying ovfmgrsvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying partitionsvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying snmpsvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying statssvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying vcsvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying vdisksvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying vslmsvc

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] OBJLIB-LIB: ObjLibPlugins_Load: Loading plugin directory '/usr/lib/vmware/plugin/objLib'

2017-04-03T11:34:31.321Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] OBJLIB-LIB: ObjLibLoadPlugin: Loading plugin 'objLib/upitObjBE.so'

2017-04-03T11:34:31.322Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] PluginLdr_Load: Loaded plugin 'objLib/upitObjBE.so' from '/usr/lib/vmware/plugin/objLib/upitObjBE.so'

2017-04-03T11:34:31.322Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] ObjLibPluginInit: Initialized plugin

2017-04-03T11:34:31.322Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] UpitBackend_GetAPI: Received request for API com.vmware.plugin.objlib.backend.api@1.0

2017-04-03T11:34:31.322Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] OBJLIB-LIB: ObjLib_RegisterDynamicBE: Back-end 'upit' found and registered as type 5

2017-04-03T11:34:31.322Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] OBJLIB-LIB: ObjLibLoadPlugin: Loading plugin 'objLib/vsanObjBE.so'

2017-04-03T11:34:31.323Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] PluginLdr_Load: Loaded plugin 'objLib/vsanObjBE.so' from '/usr/lib/vmware/plugin/objLib/vsanObjBE.so'

2017-04-03T11:34:31.323Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] ObjLibPluginInit: Initialized plugin

2017-04-03T11:34:31.323Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] VsanBackend_GetAPI: Received request for API com.vmware.plugin.objlib.backend.api@1.0

2017-04-03T11:34:31.323Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] OBJLIB-LIB: ObjLib_RegisterDynamicBE: Back-end 'vsan' found and registered as type 3

2017-04-03T11:34:31.323Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] 84175:VVOLLIB : VVolLib_GetSoapContext:379: Using 30 secs for soap connect timeout.

2017-04-03T11:34:31.323Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] 84175:VVOLLIB : VVolLib_GetSoapContext:380: Using 200 secs for soap receive timeout.

2017-04-03T11:34:31.323Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] 84175:VVOLLIB : VVolLibTracingInit:89: Successfully initialized the VVolLib tracing module

2017-04-03T11:34:31.324Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] OBJLIB-LIB: Objlib initialized.

2017-04-03T11:34:31.324Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Blklistsvc] Block List Service Plugin initialized

2017-04-03T11:34:31.324Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Directorysvc] Plugin initialized

2017-04-03T11:34:31.324Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Guestsvc.HaGuestAuthManager] HaGuestAuthManager inited

2017-04-03T11:34:31.324Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Guestsvc.HaGuestFileManager] HaGuestFileManager inited

2017-04-03T11:34:31.324Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Guestsvc.HaGuestWindowsRegistryManager] HaGuestWindowsRegistryManager inited

2017-04-03T11:34:31.324Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Guestsvc.HaGuestAliasManager] HaGuestAliasManager inited

2017-04-03T11:34:31.324Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Guestsvc.HaGuestProcessManager] HaGuestProcessManager inited

2017-04-03T11:34:31.324Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Guestsvc.HaGuestOperationsManager] HaGuestOperationsManager inited

2017-04-03T11:34:31.324Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Guestsvc] Guest Operations Plugin initialized

2017-04-03T11:34:31.324Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Hostsvc] Storage data synchronization policy set to invalidate_change

2017-04-03T11:34:31.326Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] lib/ssl: OpenSSL using FIPS_drbg for RAND

2017-04-03T11:34:31.326Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] lib/ssl: protocol list tls1.2

2017-04-03T11:34:31.326Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] lib/ssl: protocol list tls1.2 (openssl flags 0x17000000)

2017-04-03T11:34:31.326Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] lib/ssl: cipher list !aNULL:kECDH+AESGCM:ECDH+AESGCM:RSA+AESGCM:kECDH+AES:ECDH+AES:RSA+AES

2017-04-03T11:34:31.327Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] GetTypedFileSystems: fstype vfat

2017-04-03T11:34:31.327Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] GetTypedFileSystems: uuid fef9ee74-2b077e27-083a-d6b006604180

2017-04-03T11:34:31.346Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] GetTypedFileSystems: uuid 568245ab-985d4a20-a47a-0024e846f2fb

2017-04-03T11:34:31.356Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] GetTypedFileSystems: uuid 56fbbd30-99ffc450-7bb1-0024e846f2fb

2017-04-03T11:34:31.356Z info hostd[6A5C9D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] GetTypedFileSystems: uuid 6dd89b7c-110fbf84-b6c5-ecbc3474f11d

2017-04-03T11:36:01.764Z Section for VMware ESX, pid=84472, version=6.5.0, build=4564106, option=Release

2017-04-03T11:36:01.764Z verbose hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Dumping early logs:

------ Early init logs start --------

2017-04-03T11:36:01.763Z verbose -[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] No update forwarding configured

2017-04-03T11:36:01.763Z info -[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Supported VMs 171

2017-04-03T11:36:01.763Z info -[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Handle checker] Setting system limit of 3414

2017-04-03T11:36:01.763Z info -[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Handle checker] Set system limit to 3414

2017-04-03T11:36:01.763Z info -[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Setting malloc mmap threshold to 32 k

2017-04-03T11:36:01.763Z info -[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] getrlimit(RLIMIT_NPROC): curr=128 max=256

2017-04-03T11:36:01.763Z info -[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Glibc malloc guards disabled.

2017-04-03T11:36:01.763Z info -[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Initialized SystemFactory

------ Early init logs end   --------

2017-04-03T11:36:01.764Z warning hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Unrecognized log/level '' using 'info'

2017-04-03T11:36:01.764Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Logging uses fast path: true

2017-04-03T11:36:01.764Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] Could not expand environment variable HOME.

2017-04-03T11:36:01.764Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] Could not expand environment variable HOME.

2017-04-03T11:36:01.764Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "/usr/lib/vmware/config": No such file or directory.

2017-04-03T11:36:01.764Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "~/.vmware/config": No such file or directory.

2017-04-03T11:36:01.764Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "~/.vmware/preferences": No such file or directory.

2017-04-03T11:36:01.764Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] The bora/lib logs WILL be handled by VmaCore

2017-04-03T11:36:01.764Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Initialized channel manager

2017-04-03T11:36:01.764Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Current working directory: /var/log/vmware

2017-04-03T11:36:01.764Z info hostd[89E9B70] [Originator@6876 sub=ThreadPool] Thread enlisted

2017-04-03T11:36:01.764Z info hostd[8A2AB70] [Originator@6876 sub=ThreadPool] Thread enlisted

2017-04-03T11:36:01.764Z info hostd[8C6BB70] [Originator@6876 sub=ThreadPool] Thread enlisted

2017-04-03T11:36:01.764Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=ThreadPool] Thread pool on asio: Min Io, Max Io, Min Task, Max Task, Max Concurency: 2, 52, 2, 22, 2147483647

2017-04-03T11:36:01.764Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=ThreadPool] Thread enlisted

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Syscommand enabled: true

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[8A6BB70] [Originator@6876 sub=ThreadPool] Thread enlisted

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] ReaperManager Initialized

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying blklistsvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying cbrcsvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying cimsvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying directorysvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying guestsvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying hostsvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying solo

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying vimsvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying vmsvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying hbrsvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying hostspecsvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying proxysvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying httpnfcsvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying internalsvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying nfcsvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.765Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying ovfmgrsvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.766Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying partitionsvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.766Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying snmpsvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.766Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying statssvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.766Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying vcsvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.766Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying vdisksvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.766Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Trying vslmsvc

2017-04-03T11:36:01.766Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] OBJLIB-LIB: ObjLibPlugins_Load: Loading plugin directory '/usr/lib/vmware/plugin/objLib'

2017-04-03T11:36:01.766Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] OBJLIB-LIB: ObjLibLoadPlugin: Loading plugin 'objLib/upitObjBE.so'

2017-04-03T11:36:01.767Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] PluginLdr_Load: Loaded plugin 'objLib/upitObjBE.so' from '/usr/lib/vmware/plugin/objLib/upitObjBE.so'

2017-04-03T11:36:01.767Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] ObjLibPluginInit: Initialized plugin

2017-04-03T11:36:01.767Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] UpitBackend_GetAPI: Received request for API com.vmware.plugin.objlib.backend.api@1.0

2017-04-03T11:36:01.767Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] OBJLIB-LIB: ObjLib_RegisterDynamicBE: Back-end 'upit' found and registered as type 5

2017-04-03T11:36:01.767Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] OBJLIB-LIB: ObjLibLoadPlugin: Loading plugin 'objLib/vsanObjBE.so'

2017-04-03T11:36:01.768Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] PluginLdr_Load: Loaded plugin 'objLib/vsanObjBE.so' from '/usr/lib/vmware/plugin/objLib/vsanObjBE.so'

2017-04-03T11:36:01.768Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] ObjLibPluginInit: Initialized plugin

2017-04-03T11:36:01.768Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] VsanBackend_GetAPI: Received request for API com.vmware.plugin.objlib.backend.api@1.0

2017-04-03T11:36:01.768Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] OBJLIB-LIB: ObjLib_RegisterDynamicBE: Back-end 'vsan' found and registered as type 3

2017-04-03T11:36:01.768Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] 84472:VVOLLIB : VVolLib_GetSoapContext:379: Using 30 secs for soap connect timeout.

2017-04-03T11:36:01.768Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] 84472:VVOLLIB : VVolLib_GetSoapContext:380: Using 200 secs for soap receive timeout.

2017-04-03T11:36:01.768Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] 84472:VVOLLIB : VVolLibTracingInit:89: Successfully initialized the VVolLib tracing module

2017-04-03T11:36:01.768Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] OBJLIB-LIB: Objlib initialized.

2017-04-03T11:36:01.768Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Blklistsvc] Block List Service Plugin initialized

2017-04-03T11:36:01.769Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Directorysvc] Plugin initialized

2017-04-03T11:36:01.769Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Guestsvc.HaGuestAuthManager] HaGuestAuthManager inited

2017-04-03T11:36:01.769Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Guestsvc.HaGuestFileManager] HaGuestFileManager inited

2017-04-03T11:36:01.769Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Guestsvc.HaGuestWindowsRegistryManager] HaGuestWindowsRegistryManager inited

2017-04-03T11:36:01.769Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Guestsvc.HaGuestAliasManager] HaGuestAliasManager inited

2017-04-03T11:36:01.769Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Guestsvc.HaGuestProcessManager] HaGuestProcessManager inited

2017-04-03T11:36:01.769Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Guestsvc.HaGuestOperationsManager] HaGuestOperationsManager inited

2017-04-03T11:36:01.769Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Guestsvc] Guest Operations Plugin initialized

2017-04-03T11:36:01.769Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Hostsvc] Storage data synchronization policy set to invalidate_change

2017-04-03T11:36:01.771Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] lib/ssl: OpenSSL using FIPS_drbg for RAND

2017-04-03T11:36:01.771Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] lib/ssl: protocol list tls1.2

2017-04-03T11:36:01.771Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] lib/ssl: protocol list tls1.2 (openssl flags 0x17000000)

2017-04-03T11:36:01.771Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] lib/ssl: cipher list !aNULL:kECDH+AESGCM:ECDH+AESGCM:RSA+AESGCM:kECDH+AES:ECDH+AES:RSA+AES

2017-04-03T11:36:01.772Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] GetTypedFileSystems: fstype vfat

2017-04-03T11:36:01.772Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] GetTypedFileSystems: uuid fef9ee74-2b077e27-083a-d6b006604180

2017-04-03T11:36:01.790Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] GetTypedFileSystems: uuid 568245ab-985d4a20-a47a-0024e846f2fb

2017-04-03T11:36:01.804Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] GetTypedFileSystems: uuid 56fbbd30-99ffc450-7bb1-0024e846f2fb

2017-04-03T11:36:01.804Z info hostd[86209D0] [Originator@6876 sub=Libs] GetTypedFileSystems: uuid 6dd89b7c-110fbf84-b6c5-ecbc3474f11d

Message was edited by: Stefano Crosta added info on errors

Message was edited by: Stefano Crosta added `/etc/vmware/hostd/config.xml`

[stefanomarss · Accepted solution]

I had done the upgrade using the command line.

I ended up setting up a USB key with the ISO, booting from that and re-installing 6.5 (not "update") preserving the datastore, and things are back to normal. Only had to re-register VMs.

Impossible to understand what had gone wrong before...