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haimbeyhan
Contributor
Contributor

Invalid virtual machine

We're using ESXi 4.1 update 2 with the latest patches.

I have a virtual machine that I wanted to revert to a snapshot. Once I did, the virtual machine became "invalid".

I removed it from inventory and tried to add the virtual machine through the datastore browser. When I added, it showed the vm in the list but still invalid.

I checked the data browser and didn't see any lock files either. I renamed the file vmxf and tried again to add but still the vm is invalid.

Any ideas how to solve the problem?

Thanks,

Haim Beyhan

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14 Replies
Sreec
VMware Employee
VMware Employee

Hi ,

      Please follow http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1003742.As long as there is no storage issues workaround mentioned in KB should work

Cheers,
Sree | VCIX-5X| VCAP-5X| VExpert 6x|Cisco Certified Specialist
Please KUDO helpful posts and mark the thread as solved if answered
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haimbeyhan
Contributor
Contributor

I followed the part After a vMotion or VMware DRS migration but still I'm getting invalid when adding the vm to inventory.

Haim

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lvaibhavt
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

There are couple of things that I would like to check

First >> If you create a new VM ..... add the disks from the old vm to the new machine .... try powering on the new vm and check it works

Second >> if you go to the invalid vm's directory and run the touch command ..... does it show any file is busy

Third >> try moving the flat files and their vmdk's to another datastore and then check to power on the machine

Fourth >> try registering it on a different host

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haimbeyhan
Contributor
Contributor

I just want to remind I have snapshots for this vm.

Can I still try all you mentioned ? I don't want to lose the snapshots.

Haim

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sparrowangelste
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

did you try to restart the maangement agents on teh host?

ive seen this situation, and even readding will not work, untill the mgmt agent is restarted on teh host that had hosted the vm.

--------------------- Sparrowangelstechnology : Vmware lover http://sparrowangelstechnology.blogspot.com
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lvaibhavt
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

Try restarting the mgmt service as suggested and then check for the locks via the touch command on the files

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haimbeyhan
Contributor
Contributor

I restarted the management service on all hosts and then checked the locks with touch command. Ther are no locks.

I moved also the vm directory to another datastore and tried to readd it and still it's invalid.

Haim

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lvaibhavt
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

have you tried reregistering the machine on a different host ... try doing this from the command line and then check if it comes up as invalid

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haimbeyhan
Contributor
Contributor

I tried reregistering on another host and I tried also through command line and still nothing helps.

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lvaibhavt
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

Haim -- from the initial post you mentioned that you have the vm to the snapshot .... then why do you want to keep the snapshot ?

also have you tried restarting the vpxa agent service?

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haimbeyhan
Contributor
Contributor

We're developing software so we keep snapshots before updates of versions to be able to revert in case we need.

I already ran /sbin/services.sh restart command which restarts also vpxa.

Haim

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lvaibhavt
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

have you tried running ps auxwww| grep -i nameofthevm ..... check if any of the processes is seen

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lvaibhavt
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

check the last comment on this thread

http://communities.vmware.com/thread/207387

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haimbeyhan
Contributor
Contributor

I removed the host and readded, then added the vm but still shows me invalid.

What else ?????

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