Storage vMotion Wizard Times Out When Loading Storage Options

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• When initiating a storage vMotion the wizard times out when attempting to present storage options
• Datastore browser loads fine with no issues

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 6.x
VMware vCenter Server 6.7.x
VMware vCenter Server 6.5.x
VMware vCenter Server 7.0.x

Cause

• Issue is due to a host in the vCenter having connection issues such as an expired vpxuser or in an out of sync state
• Host will not always show in an error state in the UI

Resolution

• To resolve we need to identify the problem host(s) and remove them from the inventory or refresh the vpxuser by disconnecting and reconnecting the host.

Identifying Hosts:

Via the vpxd.log of the vCenter you are looking for entries by running a grep with one of the following strings:

"no host sync yet"
"Last login to"

cat /var/log/vmware/vpxd/vpxd.log | grep -i "Last login to"
cat /var/log/vmware/vpxd/vpxd.log | grep -i "no host sync yet"

Entries will be similar to:

2023-12-20T18:57:42.210Z error vpxd[04268] [Originator@6876 sub=Vmomi opID=30302e91] [VpxaClientAdapter] Last login to esxi01.gss.labs.org failed; timeout; no host sync yet
2023-12-20T18:59:03.990Z error vpxd[05951] [Originator@6876 sub=Vmomi opID=1acad430] [VpxaClientAdapter] Last login to esxi01.gss.labs.org failed; timeout; no host sync yet
2023-12-20T18:59:23.357Z error vpxd[05329] [Originator@6876 sub=Vmomi opID=4b033c97] [VpxaClientAdapter] Last login to esxi01.gss.labs.org failed; timeout; no host sync yet
2023-12-20T18:59:57.823Z error vpxd[05123] [Originator@6876 sub=Vmomi opID=37373744] [VpxaClientAdapter] Last login to esxi01.gss.labs.org failed; timeout; no host sync yet
2023-12-20T19:00:19.618Z error vpxd[03993] [Originator@6876 sub=Vmomi opID=5a836887] [VpxaClientAdapter] Last login to esxi01.gss.labs.org failed; timeout; no host sync yet
2023-12-20T19:00:19.777Z error vpxd[06549] [Originator@6876 sub=Vmomi opID=302457d7] [VpxaClientAdapter] Last login to esxi01.gss.labs.org failed; timeout; no host sync yet
2023-12-20T19:00:19.901Z error vpxd[05302] [Originator@6876 sub=Vmomi opID=5e9ec29a] [VpxaClientAdapter] Last login to esxi01.gss.labs.org failed; timeout; no host sync yet

 

Resolving Issue:

Once the hosts are identified you have the following options:

1. Disconnect and reconnect ESXi host to recreate vpxuser
2. Remove host from inventory

Workaround:

Some instances have had success with increasing the wizard timeout to allow for the esxi host call to timeout before the wizard

* Extending the default timeout periods for vCenter Server, ESX/ESXi hosts, and vCenter Update Manager (1017253)
https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1017253