esx-ui 2.1.1 impossible add existing VMDK

[karpsw]

Hi all.

I found a problem with adding an existing disk. The problem exists on versions esxi 6.5, 6.7, 7.0. 

If you have esx-uii 1.43.8 and lower then everything works fine, but if you upgrade to version 2.1.1 you won't be able to add an existing drive through the browser.

Has anyone else encountered such a problem?

[a_p_]

That's a known issue with the 2.x ESXi host client.
See e.g. https://williamlam.com/2022/12/heads-up-esxi-8-0-host-client-unable-to-attach-existing-virtual-disk-to-vm.html

André

[karpsw]

This issue will be fixed in a future update of ESXi 8.x...

What about a fix for 6.5, 6.7, 7 ?

[William Lam]

While this may not be "officially" supported ... for those NOT running ESXi 8.0, you could uninstall Host Client 2.x VIB and install the previous release. When the next patch/update, all system packages will be overridden with the version included in the patch/update

I just ran a simple experiment with ESXi 7.0 Update 3i, which includes Host Client 2.x.

Step 1 - Downloaded ESXi 7.0 Update 3g (there's no H) offline depot (zip) and extracted the contents and find esxi-ui folder which should contain VMware_bootbank_esx-ui_1.43.8-19798623.vib

Step 2 - Uninstall the Host Client 2.x VIB using ESXCLI:

 

[root@localhost:~] esxcli software vib remove -n esx-ui
Removal Result
Message: Operation finished successfully.
Reboot Required: false
VIBs Installed:
VIBs Removed: VMware_bootbank_esx-ui_2.1.1-20188605
VIBs Skipped:

 

Step 3 - SCP previous ESXi Host Client VIB to desired ESXi host

Step 4 - Install the previoius ESXi Host Client VIB using ESXCLI:

 

[root@localhost:~] esxcli software vib install -v /VMware_bootbank_esx-ui_1.43.8-19798623.vib
Installation Result
   Message: Operation finished successfully.
   Reboot Required: false
   VIBs Installed: VMware_bootbank_esx-ui_1.43.8-19798623
   VIBs Removed:
   VIBs Skipped:

 

Reboot the ESXi host to ensure everything persisted (which it did) and login to ESXi Host Client and verify that adding VMDK to existing VM workflow is successful (which it is as it is using the prior version). 

I personally don't see harm in this workaround since ESXi Host Client is simply a "client" to underlying ESXi API and for those that only have standalone ESXi host and don't have vCenter Server or simply using the Free ESXi license, this at least gives you viable UI until a new update is available with the fixed ESXi Host Client

[karpsw]

Excellent.

Thanks a lot!

[lanemhasselman]

Thank you very much. I started to freak out and almost started to restore from backup. I am running 6.7 and updated to the latest patch a week ago. Thanks again!

[btechit]

Why isn't the new UI called out in the patch's released after "g".  I don't see it called out in "i" or "k" patches.   It's a large and obviously buggy UI change!  

[Didi7]

Who cares what the user thinks?

 

It's about time for a fix to ESXi-UI dear VMware !!!

 

[Didi7]

The new ESXi version 7.0.3 Build 21424296 finally fixes the bug.

A new esx-ui 2.9.2 is available in the upgrade.

Cheers

 

[btechit]

great.  Any one tested it yet?  I'll deploy patch I in my lab later this week:  https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/rn/vsphere-esxi-70u3l-release-notes.html#whatsnew

[btechit]

Patched to latest build 7.0.3 Build 21424296 with UI 2.9.2 without issues.  Note there is also full iso files available for this update, update  "L", if needed. 
https://customerconnect.vmware.com/downloads/info/slug/datacenter_cloud_infrastructure/vmware_vsphere/7_0

[Didi7]

The fresh release ...

VMware-ESXi-7.0U3j-21053776-depot

 

... available since yesterday and the bug is still present. esx-ui has not been fixed!

 

Congratulations VMware

[btechit]

VMware_bootbank_esx-ui_2.1.1-20188605.vib is still in VMware-ESXi-7.0U3k-21313628-depo as well. They haven't released a new rev to the 2.X ui yet. Still odd the new UI is not mentioned in the patch release notes.

[btechit]

I ended up with esx-ui 2.11 after applying patch 7u3k (to resolve windows 2022 secure boot issue).  I didn't realize the new UI was included in the patch?  7u3g was installed from iso has the older ui 1.43.8.   

How to skip the UI upgrade when patching? and or call out major UI change in the patch release notes!

[lanemhasselman]

I went ahead and installed this on my ESXI server, version 6.7 U3. I went ahead and used the 7.0 ESX_UI.vib. It is working perfectly, and am able to attach Existing virtual disks.

If you are running 6.7, and do not want to use the 7.0 UI, I started to attach disks via the CLI, and it worked just as good.