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2,652 Views 20 Replies Last post: Nov 27, 2009 9:40 AM by AlejandroF RSS
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TREBOR_bcn Lurker
TREBOR_bcn
4 posts since
Aug 21, 2007
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Aug 21, 2007 2:15 AM

serialization error!

Hi everybody!!

 

I run Virtual Infrastructure Server 2.0.1 build 40644.

 

I have a problem with one virtual machine. I cannot clone, when I try it I get the error "A general system error ocurred: Field to buffer serialization error" and don't give any more detail. It only happens with this virtual machine.

 

I need help

masaki Virtuoso
masaki
1,814 posts since
Oct 26, 2005
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1. Aug 21, 2007 6:34 AM in response to: TREBOR_bcn
Re: serialization error!

What kind of Guest OS?

Any particular device attached?

TREBOR_bcn Lurker
TREBOR_bcn
4 posts since
Aug 21, 2007
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2. Aug 21, 2007 8:10 AM in response to: masaki
Re: serialization error!

guest os: windows 2003 server estandard edition + mcafee epolicy orchestrator

 

no particular hardware attached

masaki Virtuoso
masaki
1,814 posts since
Oct 26, 2005
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3. Aug 21, 2007 8:16 AM in response to: TREBOR_bcn
Re: serialization error!

Are you trying to clone to template or deploy from template?

TREBOR_bcn Lurker
TREBOR_bcn
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Aug 21, 2007
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4. Aug 21, 2007 12:35 PM in response to: masaki
Re: serialization error!

i'm trying to clone the virtual machine, the option explicit is "clone this virutal machine" not to a template, clone virtual machine to another virtual machine

masaki Virtuoso
masaki
1,814 posts since
Oct 26, 2005
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5. Aug 22, 2007 2:22 AM in response to: TREBOR_bcn
Re: serialization error!

Disable any serial or parallel devices.

 

Try this:

 

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=2246&sliceId=1&docTypeID=DT_KB_1_1&dialogID=18024972&stateId=0%200%2018026147

masaki Virtuoso
masaki
1,814 posts since
Oct 26, 2005
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6. Aug 22, 2007 2:21 AM in response to: masaki
Re: serialization error!

and this:

 

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=2200&sliceId=2&docTypeID=DT_KB_1_1&dialogID=18024972&stateId=0%200%2018026147

 

and by the way:

 

Did you install sysprep on VC Server?

TREBOR_bcn Lurker
TREBOR_bcn
4 posts since
Aug 21, 2007
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7. Aug 23, 2007 1:54 AM in response to: masaki
Re: serialization error!

Hi,

 

The vm has attached two nic's but in diferents networks, i delete one nic and clone with the same error. The autocheck key value in the registry it is by default in windows.

 

The Vc server did not install with sysprep.

 

"A general system error ocurrred: Field to buffer serialization error"

tomaddox Enthusiast
tomaddox
162 posts since
Sep 7, 2007
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8. Sep 25, 2007 3:18 PM in response to: TREBOR_bcn
Re: serialization error!

I am having the same problem with one particular VM when I try to cold migrate it to another datastore.  I have been able to work around the problem by copying the VM files via the service console, but it would be nice to be able to migrate the VM directly.

bvlente Lurker
bvlente
2 posts since
Nov 3, 2006
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9. Oct 22, 2007 2:56 AM in response to: TREBOR_bcn
Re: serialization error!

 

Hello,

 

 

I have the same error but not with cloning. When I migrate a virtual machine from 1 datastore to another the error appears.

 

 

There is 1 nic attached to the virtual machine.

 

 

Can anyone help me please?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

tomaddox Enthusiast
tomaddox
162 posts since
Sep 7, 2007
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10. Oct 22, 2007 9:27 AM in response to: bvlente
Re: serialization error!

I think can safely be classified as a bug in ESX Server.  I haven't seen any solution posted, although you might try opening a ticket with VMWare Support.  The only workaround I came up with was to shut down the VM, copy the VM directory from one datastore to another via the service console, and then delete and reregister the VM.

Hayco Lurker
Hayco
1 posts since
May 17, 2005
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11. Oct 25, 2007 4:51 AM in response to: TREBOR_bcn
Re: serialization error!

I had the same problem with a server. I wanted to move the server to a different LUN. The cause was the virtual Floppy drive setting. The floppy was connected to a client device. I changed it to host device (/dev/fd0). That solved the problem.

bvlente Lurker
bvlente
2 posts since
Nov 3, 2006
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12. Nov 19, 2007 4:50 AM in response to: tomaddox
Re: serialization error!

 

Vmware support sends me the following solution:

 

 

Can you change into the directory of each of the Virtual machines, ensuring that you are in the directory which contains the .vmx file.

Then run the following command at the command line. rm -f vmware-*.log

 

 

This will erase all the log files for the VM, except for the most important vmware.log file.

Then try to run the cold migrate again.

 

 

This works for me.

 

 

Peter Berger Novice
Peter Berger
6 posts since
Nov 5, 2007
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13. Dec 19, 2007 7:58 PM in response to: bvlente
Re: serialization error!

I ran across this error tonight and the suggestion to delete the log files (rm -f vmware-*.log) worked fine for me. I had to power on/off the VM after deleting the logs, but it worked. thanks for the tip!

senfinger Novice
senfinger
12 posts since
Apr 3, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
14. Feb 21, 2008 11:55 AM in response to: Peter Berger
Re: serialization error!

An Update... Re-Install VM-Tools or Install VM-Tools on the VM having the issues. (Should fix it; as it did ours)

 

Thanks-

Stephen

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