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mikekemp1234567
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Activating a replicated VM

Hi everyone,

I have several VMs replicating to our DR site.  I've had a problem with the vCenter Appliance and can't access it.  When I browse the remote store I can see all of the files (up to date) so I know it's been replicating.

Is there a way I can power up these VM's on an ESXi server ?

Desperate times.

M

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admin
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You can do this manually if there's no way to recover the VM using the GUI.

Firstly, you should stop replication using the command line method: https://kb.vmware.com/kb/2106946

In the past I've just used the existing set of replica files, and it worked ok:

See here from my lab:

-rw-------    1 root     root          8684 Oct  5 06:56 hbrcfg.GID-51f7e490-895a-43d2-b303-c67521e17c18.411.nvram.822

-rw-------    1 root     root          2951 Oct  5 06:56 hbrcfg.GID-51f7e490-895a-43d2-b303-c67521e17c18.411.vmx.821

-rw-------    1 root     root         12288 Oct  5 06:56 hbrdisk.RDID-9cc2fe60-1b54-44b7-b08c-789873f8d16f.416.96532343697320-delta.vmdk

-rw-------    1 root     root           371 Oct  5 06:56 hbrdisk.RDID-9cc2fe60-1b54-44b7-b08c-789873f8d16f.416.96532343697320.vmdk

-rw-------    1 root     root          2700 Oct  5 06:56 hbrgrp.GID-51f7e490-895a-43d2-b303-c67521e17c18.txt

-rw-------    1 root     root     4294967296 Oct  5 06:56 linux-01-flat.vmdk

-rw-------    1 root     root           494 Oct  5 06:56 linux-01.vmdk

I think you could rename hbrcfg.GID-51f7e490-895a-43d2-b303-c67521e17c18.411.nvram.822 to linux-01.nvram, and do the same with the vmx

Then register the VM in the inventory using the vmx.

Alternatively, you could create a new VM with the same name/configuration. During the VM creation wizard, select to use an existing virtual disk, and choose your replica VMDKs.

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mikekemp1234567
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Anyone any ideas on this?

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vikrant_kamboj
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Hi mike,

    Can you provide the details of error which you are getting while access the vcenter server appliance . so that I can help you .

Thanks

vikrant

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mikekemp1234567
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Hiya,

The vCenter Server Appliance has got it's self in a loop.  it's not booting.  Am I able to just get one of the replicated VM's up on another ESXi server as all the files look up to date on the remote storage store?

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admin
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You can do this manually if there's no way to recover the VM using the GUI.

Firstly, you should stop replication using the command line method: https://kb.vmware.com/kb/2106946

In the past I've just used the existing set of replica files, and it worked ok:

See here from my lab:

-rw-------    1 root     root          8684 Oct  5 06:56 hbrcfg.GID-51f7e490-895a-43d2-b303-c67521e17c18.411.nvram.822

-rw-------    1 root     root          2951 Oct  5 06:56 hbrcfg.GID-51f7e490-895a-43d2-b303-c67521e17c18.411.vmx.821

-rw-------    1 root     root         12288 Oct  5 06:56 hbrdisk.RDID-9cc2fe60-1b54-44b7-b08c-789873f8d16f.416.96532343697320-delta.vmdk

-rw-------    1 root     root           371 Oct  5 06:56 hbrdisk.RDID-9cc2fe60-1b54-44b7-b08c-789873f8d16f.416.96532343697320.vmdk

-rw-------    1 root     root          2700 Oct  5 06:56 hbrgrp.GID-51f7e490-895a-43d2-b303-c67521e17c18.txt

-rw-------    1 root     root     4294967296 Oct  5 06:56 linux-01-flat.vmdk

-rw-------    1 root     root           494 Oct  5 06:56 linux-01.vmdk

I think you could rename hbrcfg.GID-51f7e490-895a-43d2-b303-c67521e17c18.411.nvram.822 to linux-01.nvram, and do the same with the vmx

Then register the VM in the inventory using the vmx.

Alternatively, you could create a new VM with the same name/configuration. During the VM creation wizard, select to use an existing virtual disk, and choose your replica VMDKs.

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mikekemp1234567
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This worked really well - thank you.

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