"Conflicting VMFS datastores ... one is backed by local disk" error reconnecting ESXi host to vCenter Server
Article ID: 341652
Updated On:
Products
Issue/Introduction
This article provides information on how to detect and resolve the issue of spurious conflicting datastore error not allowing ESXi hosts to be updated.
Symptoms:
A ESXi host is disconnected from vCenter sever upon reconnection with the following error message.
"Conflicting VMFS datastores (url ds:///vmfs/volumes/xxxxxxxx/) - one is backed by local disk"
This issue occurs in one of the following scenarios:
- vCenter Server Appliance is is upgraded from (VCSA) 6.7 U2 series to VCSA 6.7 U3 series
- ESXi host is reconnected to vCenter server after the host is upgraded from ESXi 6.7 U2 to ESXi 6.7 U3
- An ESXi host running 6.7 U2 host is manually disconnected from a vCenter server, and then connected again to the vCenter server.
- /var/log/vmware/vpxd.log has following messages when this issue occurs.
--> ')
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.417Z info vpxd[04124] [Originator@6876 sub=Vmomi opID=lro-699321-407d264a] Stale SOAP session to host hostname.domainname; reinitializing
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.488Z info vpxd[04124] [Originator@6876 sub=MoHost opID=lro-699321-407d264a] host [vim.HostSystem:host-25,hostname.domainname] connection state changed to DISCONNECTED
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.496Z warning vpxd[04124] [Originator@6876 sub=MoCluster opID=lro-699321-407d264a] Deprecated property ClusterComputeResource.configuration read
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.553Z error vpxd[04124] [Originator@6876 sub=HostAccess opID=lro-699321-407d264a] Conflicting VMFS datastores (url ds:///vmfs/volumes/01234567-89abcdef-0123-456789abcdef/) - one is backed by local disk
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.555Z info vpxd[04124] [Originator@6876 sub=vpxLro opID=lro-699321-407d264a-02] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN lro-699325 -- -- DasConfig.UnconfigureHost --
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.557Z info vpxd[04124] [Originator@6876 sub=vpxLro opID=lro-699321-407d264a-02] [VpxLRO] -- FINISH lro-699325
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.557Z warning vpxd[04124] [Originator@6876 sub=MoHost opID=lro-699321-407d264a] Failed to Disconnect and Reconnect host [vim.HostSystem:host-25,hostname.domainname]: N3Vim5Fault25ConflictingDatastoreFound9ExceptionE(Fault cause: vim.fault.ConflictingDatastoreFound
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.590Z info vpxd[04028] [Originator@6876 sub=Default opID=7cc9145] [VpxLRO] -- ERROR task-1229559 -- host-25 -- vim.HostSystem.reconnect: vim.fault.ConflictingDatastoreFound:
--> Result:
--> (vim.fault.ConflictingDatastoreFound) {
--> faultCause = (vmodl.MethodFault) null,
--> faultMessage = <unset>,
--> name = "datastore-01",
--> url = "ds:///vmfs/volumes/01234567-89abcdef-0123-456789abcdef/"
--> msg = ""
--> }
--> Args:
--> /
--> Arg cnxSpec:
-->
--> Arg reconnectSpec:
-->
Environment
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7
VMware vCenter Server 6.7.x
Cause
This issue occurs if vCenter updates /etc/hosts file with incorrect or out of order entries when the ESXi hosts are reconnected.
Resolution
There is no resolution, this is due to individual DNS configuration.
Workaround:
Connect to the vCenter Server and correct the /etc/hosts file.
1. Connect to the VCSA through SSH or its virtual machine console and authenticate as the root user.
2. Examine the /etc/hosts file entry for the affected host(s).
# cat hosts |less
Generally, for each device entry, the IP address is first, followed by the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN), followed by the shortname.
-
In most environments, having entries in /etc/hosts to resolve device IPs is unnecessary as DNS performs this function -- however, it might be used more frequently in VXRail environments. If there is any question about this in a VXRail environment, please contact Dell/EMC for support.
-
Cases have been seen where the order of the hosts FQDN/shortname entries have gotten reversed or are showing a different FQDN than previously.
3. If you see that the entry for the affected host is incorrect, edit the hosts file to fix the entry.
Note: Make a backup copy of the hosts file then edit the file (# cp hosts hosts.bak)
# vi hosts
Use the INSERT key to go into edit mode.
Fix the entries
Use ESC key to exit edit mode.
Use :wq to save
Use :q! if you've made a mistake and decided you want to start fresh.
If the work-around does not work due to a different cause of the issue, contact VMware Support and note this Article ID (78403) in the problem description. For more information, see How to Submit a Support Request.
Additional Information
Affected ESXi hosts may not be able to be reconnected and managed by vCenter or are not able to be updated following the error.
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