Datastore hosting vCLS VMs does not enter maintenance mode
Article ID: 375515
Updated On:
Products
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
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