Virtual machine accessing an ISO image on NFS loses connection on network interrupt

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• Virtual machine accessing an ISO image on NFS loses connection after a network interrupt
• The virtual machine is accessing an ISO image located in an NFS share
• In the vmkernel.log file, located at /var/log/, you see the error:
  

  <YYYY-MM-DD> <Time> cpu8:8200)WARNING: NFS: 322: Lost connection to the server 10.##.##.### mount point /vmisos, mounted as 8bddbbcc-########-####-############ ("datastore_name")

• If you continue the operation on the CD from the guest by clicking Next, you see this error in vCenter Server, which requires manual acknowledgement:

the operation on file "/vmfs/volumes/################/##_####_Office_2010w_SP1_W32_English_####_###_###-#####.ISO failed. If the file resides on a remote file system, ensure that the network connection and the server where this disk resides are functioning properly. If the file resides on removable media,reattach the media. Select Retry to attempt the operation again. Select Cancel to end this session. Select Continue to forward the error to the guest operating system.

• Until the error is acknowledged the virtual machine does not regain the network connection. After clicking Cancel, power off the virtual machine immediately.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 6.x

VMware vSphere ESXi 7.x

 

Cause

This issue occurs when the virtual machine reads the ISO file from an NFS server, and the NFS server network is interrupted.

Resolution

To resolve the issue, set auto-answer for the User Interface message on each ESXi host.
 
To set auto-answer for this User Interface message:

    1. Connect to the host with SSH. For more information, see Using ESXi Shell in ESXi.

    2. Make a copy of the /etc/vmware/config file prior to changing it, in case you need to revert the file to its previous state.
          - cp config config.bak

    3. Open and edit the /etc/vmware/config file with a text editor.
          - Open the file:
                vi config

         - Press "i" to start editing.

         - Add these entries to the file:
                answer.msg.vmxaiomgr.retrycontabort.rudeunplug = "_Continue"
                answer.msg.cdromImage.disconnect = "Disconnect"

          - Once you're done editing, press "Esc" to return to command mode.

          - To save and exit
                :wq

     4. The above changes will take effect when the virtual machine is powered on.

Additional Information

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Using ESXi Shell in ESXi.

 

Impact/Risks: