Converting a machine in VMware vCenter Converter fails with the error: SQL_CANTOPEN: unable to open database file

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• Converting a machine in VMware vCenter Converter fails.
• There is an error similar to:

SQL_CANTOPEN: unable to open database file

• The worker.log contains errors similar to:
  
  YYYY-MM-DDT<time> [26408 error 'Default'] [task,362] [LRO] Unexpected Exception: SQL_CANTOPEN: unable to open database file
  YYYY-MM-DDT<time> [26408 info 'Default'] [task,379] [task-6] -- ERROR -- Convert: vmodl.fault.SystemError
  --> (vmodl.fault.SystemError) {
  --> dynamicType = <unset>,
  --> faultCause = (vmodl.MethodFault) null,
  --> reason = "SQL_CANTOPEN: unable to open database file",
  --> msg = "",
  --> }</time></time>

Cause

This error occurs when vCenter Converter is unable to access its internal database as the database file is locked.

Resolution

Temporarily disable any third-party applications that may place a lock on the vCenter Converter database. In most cases, this is caused by a backup or antivirus solutions.

 

This can also prevent this from occurring by excluding the vCenter Converter database files from backup or antivirus scans located in:

C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware vCenter Converter Standalone\db

or

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\VMware vCenter Converter Standalone\db