StillLearning20
Contributor
Contributor

Storage: How do you fix two folders controlling one VM?

Just an example:

I had a VM named "Johnson" that I wanted to rename "Jones".  I followed the KB instructions and the rename went smooth, but ran into trouble when I ran the "registervm" command.  Short story is that the registervm cammand kept failing until I restarted the esxi host, then it completed.  However, it created an Orphan VM, after trying to correct this with another KB I know have 2 folders controlling the "Jones" VM.  One labeled "Jones" and one labeled "Jones_1"

Looking for the best way to combined them into folder without crashing the vm.

Thanks

Madmax01
Expert
Expert

Hello,

If i understood correctly  you want only to change the Name of the Vm?.  So yes theire are some poss.

1:  unregister

2: change the Folder

3: change all files

4: change also the Pointerfile for the disk,....

5: register again

Or you change only the Displayname and making Storage Migration to other Storage and back again. through the SVM Process the Filesystem struktur will automaticly fitted.  (sure only good if you have the poss. to move and once the Disk is not tooo big > duration time etc,...)

So if you have orphan > then you're changes didn't worked or you missed a change. important is to change the pointer file.  > that is often a Part which is forgotten.

PS:  Please delete Snapshots before doing that Smiley Wink it's better.

Best regards

Max

StillLearning20
Contributor
Contributor

Thanks Max - can you provide and specifics on #4.  Still new to the cli environment

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Madmax01
Expert
Expert

Hello,

i found a nice KB:  http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=100249...

theire you see the infos about

  • Virtual disk descriptor. In the following example: examplevm.vmdk
  • Virtual disk extent. In the following example: examplevm-flat.vmdk

i personally didn't knewed that it's possible to change the vDisk name  with "vmkfstools -ESmiley Wink  > this process seems to be also changing the Pointer info inside the Descriptor file

So important is that everything is renamed to you're new Wished VM Name Smiley Wink. after that it should be no problem to register the VM again.

Best regards

Max

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