Cannot mount ISO: Connection control operation failed for disk sata0:0 or ide0:0

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi
• VMware Cloud on AWS
• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

When attempting to mount or unmount an ISO image in the CD/DVD drive of a virtual machine (VM), the operation fails with one of the following errors:

• Connection control operation failed for disk 'sata0:0'
• Connection control operation failed for disk 'ide0:0'
  

Virtual Machine (VM) and Datastore Symptoms:

• From the vCenter Server, an error occurs when attempting to mount an ISO from the Content Library to a VM.

• From the ESXi Host Client, mounting an ISO from a datastore that exists on the same backing storage succeeds.

• From the vCenter Server, mounting an ISO from a datastore on the same backing storage (not from the Content Library) succeeds.

• Mounting a newly uploaded ISO to the same VM succeeds.

Content Library Symptoms:

• Uploading an ISO to the Content Library that does not already exist succeeds.

• Attempting to download (export) an original ISO existing in the Content Library that fails to mount to the VM results in the following error:

“ A general system error occurred:…the export of library item…cannot find library item…in the storage backing of library…”.

Cause

• Active VM Locks: A virtual machine with an active snapshot or a pending disk consolidation retains a lock on its virtual hardware configuration, which blocks changes to the CD/DVD drive settings.

• Missing Content Library File: The ISO image file in the Content Library is deleted or removed directly from the underlying backing storage outside the Content Library interface.

Resolution

Depending on the cause identified above, follow the corresponding resolution path:

VM with an Active Snapshot or Pending Consolidation

1. Remove Snapshots: Ensure no snapshots exist for the VM in the vCenter Server.

2. Consolidate Disks: Right-click the VM, select Snapshots, and click Consolidate.

3. Direct Host Management: Log in to the ESXi Host Client (not the vCenter Server) for the host where the VM resides.

4. Edit Settings:

   • Right-click the VM and select Edit Settings.

   • Change the CD/DVD drive type to Client Device.

   • Uncheck Connected and Connect at Power On.

   • Confirm the Device Mode setting for Passthrough located under the CD/DVD Drive settings.

   • Save the changes.

Missing File in the Content Library Backing Storage

1. Export any accessible files from the existing Content Library, if necessary.

2. Delete the affected Content Library from the vCenter Server.

3. Create a new Content Library.

4. Upload the necessary ISO files to the new Content Library.

Additional Information

See also related issues when files are removed outside of Content Library interface.

• Content Library & Subscribed content libraries failing to deploy after sync - Checking for missing/corrupted data issues