"Conflicting VMFS datastores ... one is backed by local disk" error reconnecting ESXi host to vCenter Server
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"Conflicting VMFS datastores ... one is backed by local disk" error reconnecting ESXi host to vCenter Server

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Article ID: 341652

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Updated On:

Products

VMware vCenter Server VMware vSphere ESXi

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 you may see the following error messages

"Conflicting VMFS datastores (url ds:///vmfs/volumes/xxxxxxxx/) - one is backed by local disk"

Datastore 'XXXXX' conflicts with an existing datastore in the datacenter that has the same URL (ds:///vmfs/volumes/XXXXXXXX/), but is backed by different physical storage.
 

This issue occurs in one of the following scenarios:

  • vCenter Server Appliance 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.
  • ESXi hosts are upgraded
  • In the /var/log/vmware/vpxd.log on the vCenter Server, you will find entries similar to:
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.289 info vpxd[09096] [Originator@6876 sub=InvtHostCnx opID=HeartbeatStartHandler-5561df04] Host build number changed; [vim.HostSystem:host-XXX,hostname.domainname], old: 20842708, new: 24585291
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.289 info vpxd[07213] [Originator@6876 sub=vpxLro opID=lro-200068693-62b4b054] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN lro-200068693 --  -- HostDisconnectAndReconnectLRO --
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.488Z info vpxd[04124] [Originator@6876 sub=MoHost opID=lro-699321-407d264a] host [vim.HostSystem:host-XX,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/XXXXXXXX/) - 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-XX,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/XXXXX/"
-->    msg = ""
--> }
--> Args:
--> /
--> Arg cnxSpec:
-->
--> Arg reconnectSpec:
-->


Environment

  • VMware vSphere vCenter Server 8.x
  • VMware vSphere vCenter Server 7.x
  • VMware vSphere vCenter Server 6.7

Cause

  • This issue occurs if the vCenter's /etc/hosts file is configured with incorrect or out of order entries for the ESXi hosts

Resolution

  • There is no resolution because 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).

# cd /etc/
# 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.

Example:

192.168.x.x myhost01.mydomain.com myhost01

  • 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.

Note: This issue also occurs if ESXi hosts are added to the vCenter using shortname and the /etc/hosts file has entries added correctly as "192.168.x.x myhost01.mydomain.com myhost01". If this is the case, you need to modify the /etc/hosts file and remove the FQDN.

Example:

192.168.x.x myhost01

If the work-around does not work due to a different cause of the issue, contact VMware by Broadcom Support and note this KB in the problem description.

For more information, see How to Submit a Broadcom Support Request.

 

Additional Information

Impact/Risks:

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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