Cannot add ESXi host to Vcenter.

[Habernet]

Hello everyone. So I have a lab environment built entirely on workstation for a class I am taking.

I have two ESXi hosts (5.5) running in their own VMs. A VCSA (5.5). And a Linux VM that I use the web client to access the VCSA.

All VMs are attached to the appropriate virtual networks (via respective nics). The management network is NAT (on workstation, per lab instructions).

I am able to access the VCSA but I cannot add the hosts.

This KB article details the exact error code I get. However none of the solutions have worked.

VMware Knowledge Base

I have done many things including testing the management networks and verifying that the hosts can ping the VCSA.

Nothing seems to be working.

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated considering this is an online class and my instructor is a very busy person so email correspondence is not super helpful.

[daphnissov]

Are you required to use vSphere 5.5 for this class? Otherwise, why would you be deploying and attempting to troubleshoot such an old version?

[Habernet]

Yes we are required to use it. I’m not entirely sure why but that’s the version our book is on and that’s what we are required to do.

[rcporto]

Can you confirm the exact build number of your hosts and the vCSA?

[Habernet]

Hosts: 5.5.0 Build 3248547

VCSA: 5.5.0.5201 Build 1476389

[rcporto]

The problem is that your hosts are running version 5.5 Update 3b and your vCenter build number is too old to support them. You need deploy a new vCSA version 5.5 Update 3b or later, or downgrade your hosts to a version lower than Update 3b, or re-enable SSLv3 in your hosts (not recommended).

See the following VMware KB article for details: VMware Knowledge Base

[Habernet]

Thank you for the information. As it turns out the links the instructor provided were incorrect. I was able to add my hosts to my VCSA when the correct versions were running.

[Mnemonic]

The problem can also sometimes be related to incorrect time synchronization. Cannot add ESXi host to vCenter – The vGoodie-bag