Error: "The specified key, name, or identifier '#####' already exists" when attempting to cross vCenter vMotion VM's

Products

• VMware

Issue/Introduction

When attempting to migrate a VM from a source vCenter to a destination vCenter it fails with "The specified key, name, or identifier '#####' already exists."

Environment

• VMware vCenter Server 8.0.x
• VMware vCenter Server 7.0.x
• VMware Cloud Director 10.x

Cause

Due to a duplicate vc.uuid that is present in both vCenter sites.

Resolution

Remove the duplicate vc.uuid from the source VM:

1. Power off the affected VM.
2. Navigate to the VM folder on an ssh to the source ESXi host.
3. Take a backup of the VM's vmx file:
   
   cp VM01.vmx VM01.vmx.bak
   
   
4. Edit the VM's vmx file and remove the vc.uuid line from the vmx file.
5. Refresh the vmx file by running the following commands to gather the vmid and then using the vmid to reload the vmx:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms |grep VM01
vim-cmd vmsvc/reload <VMID>
6. Power on the VM this will generate a new vc.uuid.