Stale datastore entry for virtual machine on the Summary tab

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Post performing Storage vMotion of complete VM to new datastore, stale entry for the original (stale) datastore is seen for the virtual machine on the Summary tab.

• Virtual machine is using only one datastore, still the stale datastore is displayed.

• There are no virtual machine files on the stale datastore.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi (All Versions)

Cause

This issue can occur due to any of the below reasons:

1. When an ISO/DVD is left mounted on the VM from the original datastore.
2. Snapshot exists on the VM, which were taken when the VM was on the original datastore.
3. This can also happen from a legacy floppy disk reference in the .vmx file from the original datastore.

Resolution

Verify that there are no files on this datastore that references this virtual machine:

• Right-click the datastore, browse Datastore and check if there are any files for that virtual machine.
• Right-click the VM, click Edit Settings, check if any hard disk is residing on that datastore.

 

After verifying:

1. Right-click the VM, click Edit Settings > CD/DVD Drive. If the Datastore ISO is checked, verify if the path is on the stale entry datastore. If yes, then uncheck that option, set it to client device and click OK.
2. Right-click VM, click Snapshot > Snapshot Manager. If there are any snapshots, consolidate (Delete all) those snapshots.

 

For legacy floppy disk reference:

1. In the vmx file for the VM, look for the "floppy' entries which reference the original datastore. There would be 3 for each floppy disk.
2. Power OFF the VM, make a copy of the vmx file for backup. (As always, ensure full VM back is present before starting this.)
3. Add a "#" symbol at the start of the line where the "floppy" entries are found, in the vmx file.
4. Save the vmx file.
5. Power ON the VM and now the stale datastore entry would be gone.