VCF on VxRail: Install NSX VIB Manually if Installation Fails on ESXi During the VCF Upgrade

It is advised to follow the Broadcom article ESXi host in Not Ready state after major ESXi version upgrade

If the above article does not fix the Issue, proceed with the steps shown below.

VIB:
A VIB is an ESXi software package. VMware and its partners package solutions, drivers, CIM providers, and applications that extend the ESXi platform as VIBs. VIBs are available in software depots. See VMware blog What is in a VIB? 

Image Profile: 
An image profile defines an ESXi image and consists of VIBs. An image profile always includes a base VIB and might include more VIBs.

Software Depot:
A software depot is a collection of VIBs and image profiles. The software depot is a hierarchy of files and folders and can be available through an HTTP URL (online depot) or a ZIP file (offline depot).

A VIB has three parts:

• VIB: vSphere Installation BundleFile Archive - the main file - The file which gets deployed to the ESXi host.
• XML descriptor file: This has important info about requirements for installing the VIB (dependencies, compatibility, reboot necessary?)
• Signature File: Signature which verifies the level of trust (Integrity, Information about the creator and verification that has been done).

There are two methods for getting the NSX VIBs for manual installation.

See Broadcom article: Downloading NSX VIB bundles for ESXi hosts from NSX Manager Appliances

Once completed, place the host into maintenance mode and follow the standard instructions to install the VIBs manually on an ESXi host:

• NSX-T Data Center
• VMware NSX

More Broadcom articles to review on this topic:

• esxcli software VIB commands to update an ESXi 6.x or 7.x host

Patching ESXi host using Command Line

• NSX Troubleshooting

Host Fails to Install as Transport Node