Converting a virtual machine using vCenter Converter Standalone fails at 1% with the error: "Cannot communicate with the remote host, either due to network errors or because the host is not responding"

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Converting a virtual machine using vCenter Converter Standalone fails.
• Converter task fails at 1%.
• In the vmware-converter-worker-X.log file located at C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware vCenter Converter Standalone\logsyou see entries similar to:
  
  2018-06-05T12:08:41.753-07:00 info vmware-converter-worker[02332] [Originator@6876 sub=task-10] Got remote helper VM IP addresses as: fe80::###:####:####:6fe7
  2018-06-05T12:08:41.753-07:00 info vmware-converter-worker[02332] [Originator@6876 sub=task-10] Connecting to Converter Helper on fe80::###:####:####:6fe7:443 over TCP/IP over SSL
  2018-06-05T12:08:41.753-07:00 info vmware-converter-worker[02332] [Originator@6876 sub=task-10] Connecting to Converter Helper with retry, retryCount 600, interval 1, times left 600
  2018-06-05T12:08:41.753-07:00 warning vmware-converter-worker[01320] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Failed to connect socket; <io_obj p:0x022d8b18, h:2604, <TCP '0.0.0.0:0'>, <TCP '[fe80::###:####:####:6fe7]:443'>>, e: system:10051(A socket operation was attempted to an unreachable network)
  2018-06-05T12:08:41.753-07:00 error vmware-converter-worker[01320] [Originator@6876 sub=HttpConnectionPool-000000] [ConnectComplete] Connect failed to <cs p:0216be60, TCP:[fe80::###:####:####:6fe7]:443>; cnx: (null), error: class Vmacore::SystemException(A socket operation was attempted to an unreachable network)
  2018-06-05T12:08:42.760-07:00 info vmware-converter-worker[02332] [Originator@6876 sub=task-10] Connecting to Converter Helper with retry, retryCount 599, interval 1, times left 599
  2018-06-05T12:08:42.760-07:00 warning vmware-converter-worker[01456] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Failed to connect socket; <io_obj p:0x060a5590, h:2844, <TCP '0.0.0.0:0'>, <TCP '[fe80::###:####:####:6fe7]:443'>>, e: system:10051(A socket operation was attempted to an unreachable network).
  
  Note: The preceding log excerpts are only examples. Date, time, and environmental variables may vary depending on your environment.

Environment

VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 6.x

Cause

This issue occurs when the helper virtual machine is getting automatically assigned an IPv6 address, while the environment is not configured for IPv6.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, disable IPv6 and assign static IPv4 address. For more information, see the Configure the Network for the Helper Virtual Machine section of the VMware vCenter Converter Standalone User's Guide.