Virtual machine fails to power on with Invalid metadata errors

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

You are experiencing these issues:

• Virtual machine fails to power on.
• Virtual machine logs show the errors:
  
  Sep 21 23:19:52.728: vmx| Msg_Post: Error
  Sep 21 23:19:52.728: vmx| [msg.vmmonVMK.creatVMFailed] Could not power on VM : Invalid metadata.
  Sep 21 23:19:52.728: vmx| [msg.monitorLoop.createVMFailed] Failed to power on VM-------
  
• VMkernel logs show the errors:
  
  Sep 21 21:52:56 besxps01 vmkernel: 3:09:23:06.771 cpu3:1089)WARNING: Swap: 2056: Set file length failed:status Invalid metadata, length 2166784KB
  Sep 21 21:52:56 besxps01 vmkernel: 3:09:23:06.771 cpu3:1089)WARNING: MemSched: vm 1090: 2957: insufficient swap: need=2166784
  Sep 21 21:52:56 besxps01 vmkernel: 3:09:23:06.771 cpu3:1089)WARNING: World: vm 1090: 911: init fn memsched failed with: Invalid metadata
  Sep 21 21:52:56 besxps01 vmkernel: 3:09:23:06.771 cpu3:1089)WARNING: World: vm 1090: 1776: WorldInit failed: trying to cleanup.
  

Resolution

To resolve these issues and power on the virtual machine once again:

1. Move the virtual machine to either local disk or a different LUN.
2. Power on the virtual machine from the new location.