Cannot create snapshot, corrupted delta files

[hmanvmware]

I use Veeam to backup our servers, it has been running smoothly for years. Veeam creates a snapshot of the VM and than backs up this snapshot. After completion the backup job deletes the snapshot. Due to an aborted backup job, the some of the snapshot files were not deleted. I tried to consolidate the snapshot, that runs through but it doesn't delete the old delta.vmdk files. I tried to create a snapshot, but that fails with msg.snapshot.error-NOTFOUND When I connect to the ESXi I can see the delta files dated from June 8th, I think that might be the problem why I cannot create a snapshot:

I ran throught different articles in the knowledge base of Vmware but I couldn't find an answer.

Can anybody help me with this issue?

Thanks

Kind regards

[continuum]

> I tried to create a snapshot, but that fails with msg.snapshot.error-NOTFOUND
Which file can not be found ?
Once you know that check where this file is configured.

According to your screenshot 4 vmdk descriptorfiles are missing.

[RajeevVCP4]

Remove this vm from backup ( veam) , ask backup administrator to remove any snapshot from veam

then create and delete snap shot by command line

then consolidate

If issue not resolved shut down vm

unregister and re-register vm

then consolidate

[hmanvmware]

Thank you for your reply.

When I try to create a snapshot the VMSN file is the file that is missing:

Fehlgeschlagen- Detected an invalid snapshot configuration.

• An error occurred while saving the snapshot: A required file was not found.
• An error occurred while saving snapshot file "/vmfs/volumes/57458307-0e1b5c49-cf99-3497f6013d67/Server5 Webhoster Debian 8/Server5 Webhoster Debian 8-Snapshot287.vmsn".
• An error occurred while taking a snapshot: A required file was not found.

I will try to recreate the missing vmdk files to see if that helps.

[continuum]

Your 4 delta-files are so small and were create in such a short time that I think you can simply discard them.

For the dead reference to a vmsn-file inspect the vmx-file.

There should be a reference to the vmsn that you can remove.

[hmanvmware]

I inspected the vmx file and also the vmx~ file but there is no reference to a vmsn file at all.

[hmanvmware · Accepted solution]

OK I think I solved the problem. I recreated the vmdk files as a copy of the main vmdk file.

This is explained here:

Recreating a missing virtual disk (VMDK) descriptor file for delta disks (1026353)

What is important is that the CID, parentCID and parentFileNameHint match.

How to change the CID and parentCID is explained here:

The parent virtual disk has been modified since the child was created" error (1007969)​

After these steps I could create a snapshot. And you were right I can delete those
old delta files, but I will first consolidate.

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