Unable to access file <unspecified filename> since it is locked

[haverer]

Hi,

I am running 2 ESX Hosts. On each host I was running just the 1 virtual machine (both of which connect to disks on the same SAN). I have now created another Virtual Machine to run on each host (4 virtual machines in total, 2 virtual machines on each host).

I have added the virtual disks into my new VM's (by using option 'use an existing virtual disk'). However when I try to power on my new Virtual Machines I am presented with the error:

"Unable to access file since it is locked"

On Host 1, I have powered off the 'old' Virtual Machine incase it was holding onto some files. I then powered up my new virtual machine and it works! However, I then go to power on the 'old' Virtual Machine and this has the same error!!

AARGH!!

[mbx369]

If I understand ur question correctly, actually that's the way it works.

Unless u are doing a raw device mapping & sharing the SCSI bus controller, the 2 VMs cannot share the same disks.

So if you need the 2 VMs to share the disks for things like cluster setup, then please use the raw device mapping method instead.

Hope this helps.

~~~~~ To Live Is To Die ~~~~~

[haverer]

Hi,

Yes one Virtual machine 1, the disks are setup as Raw Device Mappings and SCSI Bus Sharing is set to 'Physical'. On the new virtual machine I cannot set these up as additional Raw Device Mappings, they need to be created as "use an existing virtual disk" and SCSI Bus Sharing is None.

[mbx369]

Hi,

Can you set the bus sharing on the new VM as "Physical" as well?

~~~~~ To Live Is To Die ~~~~~~

[haverer]

No, when I try to set it to Physical it errorsL

Device 'SCSI Controller 1' is a SCSI Controller engaged in bus sharing

[mbx369]

If my guess is right, the 1st VM is not powered off ya?

Both VMs have to be powered off to configure the RDM.

Let me know if that works.

~~~~~ To Live Is To Die ~~~~~

[haverer]

Hi, no I had powered off both VMs before adding the RDM. Still saying a file is locked

[mbx369]

u mean u did:

1) power off both the VMs

2) add RDM on 1st VM, physical bus sharing

3) add RDM, existing disk on 2nd VM, physical bus sharing

4) Able to power on only one of the VMs at one time.

Is this correct?

Both the bus sharing have to be "physical" sharing.

Are you able to set that on the 2nd VM while both VMs are powered off?

If you can't try again, delete the bus and retry.

By the way, the bus for sharing RDM disks have to be a separate one from the one that is assigned to the non-sharing disks.

Example, disk1 = C drive, no sharing on bus #1. disk2 = quorum disk, sharing on bus #2.

~~~~~ To Live Is To Die ~~~~~

[haverer]

Yes, that is correct.

Q:Both the bus sharing have to be "physical" sharing. Are you able to set that on the 2nd VM while both VMs are powered off?

A: No

The setup is:

Disk 1 C:\ (Virtual Disk) No Bus Sharing

Disk 2 Q:\ (Raw Device Mapping) Physical Bus Sharing

However on the SCSI Controller 2 (for the 2nd VM) I cannot set SCSI Bus sharing to physical. Returns an error:

Device SCSI Controller 2 is a SCSI Controller engaged in bus-sharing

[mbx369]

Will it be possible if you could upload a screenshot of the "edit settings" window for both VMs?

~~~~~ To Live Is To Die ~~~~~

VCP3&4

[haverer]

Sure. Have uploaded them now. Thanks

[haverer]

Sure, have uploaded now. thanks

[haverer]

Yeh sure, uploaded now. Many thanks

[haverer]

Do you think that if, perhaps, I shut down the Virtual Machine that is on the other host this may free up any locks on the SAN and then I can add my new virtual machine disks and set SCSI to 'Physical'? I was just wondering if the other VM may be holding onto anything? Even though I have tried adding disks to the new VM that are NOT being accessed by any other VM

[haverer]

Or even if I rebooted ESX Host 1 - perhaps any file locks would be released?

[mbx369]

hmm, think the screenshot was not attached in ur last post.

I have 2 VMs with v-RDM. Do yours look like these?

~~~~~ To Live Is To Die ~~~~~

VCP3&4

[haverer]

I just tried changing all RDM SCSI Controllers on VM1 from Physical to None. I then tried changing all SCSI Controllers on VM2 (my new VM) from none to 'Physical' and it the 'engaged in SCSI bus sharing message' appeared again!

I then changed all RDM SCSI Controllers on VM1 from None back to Physical and no errors appeared.

Totally bamboozled...

[haverer]

Sorry i have reposted the screenshots

[mbx369]

Bro,

will it be possible for you to:

1) Remove all RDM disks on VM#2, SCSI Controller #1 and 2. click ok.

2) Restart your mgmt-vmware services on both ESX servers.

3) Add the SCSI Controller #1 to VM#2. Try adding only 1 RDM disk first. Ensure that the disk is pointing to the correct SCSI device.

4) Power-on both VMs if (3) is ok.

~~~~~ To Live Is To Die ~~~~~

VCP3&4

[mbx369]

Another thing, is either VMs having snapshots?

~~~~~ To Live Is To Die ~~~~~

VCP3&4