snapshot consolidation error

[mbannout]

Hello

A VM running on ESXi 5.5 had a snapshot, we upgraded the host from 5.5 to 6.0 without consolidating or deleting the snapshot. now when I try to consolidate or delete i get "detected an invalid snapshot configuration". can anyone help ?

[mahamk]

Power off and Right click the VM then edit settings​. Go to hard disk location  (.vmdk) and note down the path. Now You can create a new VM with no hard disk and attach the hard disk path which you had noted down. Now You can check the snapshot and it should be emptied.

[a_p_]

This error message is usually related to an issue with the VM's .vmsd file.

What you may try is to create another snapshot, and then click "Delete All" from the Snapshot manager.

If this doesn't work, delete the VM's .vmsd file (a small text file), reload the VM (see https://kb.vmware.com/kb/1026043), and then try creating another snapshot again.

André

[mbannout]

Hi andre

Thanks for the reply. If i delete the vmsd file, what will hapoen to the

old snapshot ?

[a_p_]

The .vmsd file stores the information that you see in the Snapshot Manager. Assuming that you don't need to keep any of the snapshots to revert to, deleting the file will not have any negative effect.

André

[mbannout]

@mahamksorry i haven't seen your reply earlier. i'm definitely going to try this tomorrow.

[mbannout · Accepted solution]

Thank you guys for the input, i have found the problem. one of my engineers had changed the name of the virtual machine after taking the snapshot. apparently the vmsd file was still pointing to the old disk name, i fixed the pointer and now i am able to consolidate and delete the snapshot.