Datastore hosting vCLS VMs does not enter maintenance mode
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Datastore hosting vCLS VMs does not enter maintenance mode

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Article ID: 375515

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Updated On:

Products

VMware vCenter Server VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

You cannot put a datastore hosting vCLS VMs in maintenance mode. 

1. All VMs running on this datastore get evacuated except the vCLS VMs which don't move. 

2. You cannot power OFF vCLS VMs as DRS will power them back ON by design.

3. You cannot manually svMotion the VMs because the files are locked.

4. The datastore maintenance task is stuck at 1% and doesn't progress.

5. vCenter logs the below errors under tasks

Move file    Datastore-04    Unable to access file [Datastore-01] vCLS-710b2d87-d4ca-4d1b-b6a8-f033f8c3e7c1/vCLS-710b2d87-d4ca-4d9b-b6a8-f033f8c3e7c1-9a66c697.vswp                          user@vmware    3 ms    08/16/2024, 7:40:13 PM    08/16/2024, 7:40:14 PM    1s        vCenter.vmware.com
Move file    Datastore-04    Unable to access file [MSG_EXCHANGE_HITACHI_DS_03] vCLS-720b2d87-d4ca-4f9b-b6a8-f033f8c3e7c1/vCLS-750b2d87-d4ca-4d9b-b6a8-f033f8c3e7c1.vmx~ user@vmware    6 ms    08/16/2024, 7:40:13 PM    08/16/2024, 7:40:41 PM    27s    vCenter.vmware.com
Move file    Datastore-04    Unable to access file [MSG_EXCHANGE_HITACHI_DS_03] vCLS-740b2d87-d4ca-4f9b-b6a8-f033f8c3e7c1/vCLS-750b2d87-d4ca-4d9b-b6a8-f033f8c3e7c1.vmdk since it is locked   user@vmware    4 ms    08/16/2024, 7:40:13 PM    08/16/2024, 7:40:19 PM    5s      vCenter.vmware.com

Environment

VMware vCenter Server
VMware vSphere ESXi

Cause

vSphere Cluster Services (vCLS) is activated by default and runs in all vSphere clusters. vCLS is activated when you upgrade to vSphere 7.0 Update 3 or when you have a new vSphere 7.0 Update 3 deployment. 

Because these VM files are locked by a host, svMotion cannot move these VMs to a different datastore and because these VMs are not moving from the datastore that you are trying to put in maintenance mode, the task does not complete. 

Resolution

Disable vCLS by putting the host cluster into retreat mode temporarily. You can revert this setting to default after putting all datastores into maintenance mode. 

Additional Information