Unable to destroy "unknown (orphaned)" VM

[Argyle]

After a cancelled P2V with VMWare converter i now have a VM on one of my hosts with the name "unknown (orphaned)". Im not able to remove it and it's not vissible with "vmware-cmd -l" command in Service Console.

When I try to remove it in VIC i get an error saying "Object reference not set to an instance of an object."

Im running ESX 3.5.0 (64607) and VC 2.5.0 (64192). Has onyone encountered this problem?

[VMKR9]

Try restarting the virtual center service

[Argyle]

I've tried restarting the Host and the Virtual Center server, no go. I'm outa ideas....

[VMKR9]

Strange one, so you get the error when you do a right click remove from inventory? Sounds like you may have to start looking at directly editing the SQL database....

[Argyle]

Yepp, the message is displayed when i right klick on the VM. It's probarbly some old info in the database, just don't know where to start looking... 😃

[kjb007]

Does the vm folder exist on the vmfs? Does it have a vmx file? Try a manual unregister, /usr/bin/vmware-cmd -s unregister /path/to/vmx

-KjB

[Argyle]

There are no files on the VMFS volumes, the VM probarbly only exists in the database...

[T3Steve]

Out of curiosity, do you also see a blank/orphaned VM if you go into VMware HA, Virtual Machine options and then sort by hostname? Ditto under VMware DRS.

[Argyle]

Yes, theres a VM with the name "unknown".

[espi3030]

Have you restarted the server that houses your database? I had same issue once and that cleared it up for me.

[xcomiii]

I had a similar situation, ended up with manually removing the files on the host and had to relase locks on them first.

[Argyle]

I've restarted the host and the virtualcenter server without result. There are no files (*.vmx, *.vmdk) attached to the unknown VM, it seems like it only exists in the database, nowhere else...

[kjb007]

Connect directly to the ESX server the vm appears to be on using the vi client, and try removing it from that interface.

-KjB

[teoder · Accepted solution]

Find the VM id number in the VC database end remove it completly. Should do the trick.

[Argyle]

Tried to connect to the Host that housed to VM but it did'nt show up.

[Argyle]

I got help from our DBA to find all entrys that belonged to the VM and deleted them. Now it's nowhere to be found. Thanks alot.

[libraboysg]

I also faced the same problem

Just to share .

To remove ophaned VM

Access the SQL database using Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express from

Go to database VIM_VCDB , table dbo.VPX_VM

Right click on the table Script Table as -> Delete To -> New Query Editor Window

Change the ID number to that of the VM and execute

[vCenter]

Hi,

Thanks for tips.

But just after deleted VM ID in table i can't start Virtual Center service, i have an error :

The description for Event ID ( 1000 ) in Source cannot be found. The local computer may not have the necessary registry information or message DLL files to display messages from a remote computer. You may be able to use the /AUXSOURCE= flag to retrieve this description; see Help and Support for details

Thans for your help.

Yvan

[vCenter]

Resolved,

The same action but on .VPX_ENTITY.