Check-in fails for a VM template backed by vVOL or vSAN ESA with error "The virtual disk is either corrupted or not a supported format"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Can't "check-in" VMs to a content library where the VM is backed by vVOL or vSAN ESA. Checking in the VM fails with the error "The virtual disk is either corrupted or not a supported format".

The following log signature is seen in the vpxd log:

2024-10-15T14:47:31.528+02:00 info vpxd[06289] [Originator@6876 sub=VmProv opID=XXX] Workflow context:
--> (vpx.vmprov.CheckinContext) {
-->    cbData = (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) [
-->       (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) {
-->          key = "workflow.startTime",
-->          value = 2230646785562
-->       },
-->       (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) {
-->          key = "workflow.actionTiming",
-->          value = (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) [
-->             (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) {
-->                key = "vpx.vmprov.RemoveSnapshot",
-->                value = "2024-10-15T12:47:31.328692Z"
-->             },
-->             (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) {
-->                key = "vpx.vmprov.PromoteDisks",
-->                value = "2024-10-15T12:47:31.356588Z"
-->             }
-->          ]
-->       }
-->    ],
-->    checkinSpec = (vim.vm.CheckinSpec) {
-->       snapshotName = "snapshot-name",
-->       snapshotDescription = "Snapshot used by Content Library to check out a library item containing a virtual machine template.",
-->       contentLibItemInfo = (vim.vm.ContentLibraryItemInfo) {
-->          contentLibraryItemUuid = "XXX",
-->          contentLibraryItemVersion = "3"
-->       },
-->       previousTemplate = 'vim.VirtualMachine:XXX:vm-XXX',
-->       previousTemplateNewName = "template-name",
-->       currentTemplateName = "template-name"
-->    },
-->    vm = 'vim.VirtualMachine:XXX:vm-XXX',
--> }
2024-10-15T14:47:31.537+02:00 error vpxd[06289] [Originator@6876 sub=Default opID=XXX] [VpxLRO] -- ERROR lro-80681188 -- XXX -- vm-XXX -- vim.VirtualMachine.checkin: :vim.fault.InvalidDiskFormat
--> Result:
--> (vim.fault.InvalidDiskFormat) {
-->    faultCause = (vmodl.MethodFault) null,
-->    faultMessage = <unset>
-->    msg = "The virtual disk is either corrupted or not a supported format."
--> }
--> Args:
-->
--> Arg spec:
--> (vim.vm.CheckinSpec) {
-->    snapshotName = "snapshot-name",
-->    snapshotDescription = "Snapshot used by Content Library to check out a library item containing a virtual machine template.",
-->    contentLibItemInfo = (vim.vm.ContentLibraryItemInfo) {
-->       contentLibraryItemUuid = "XXX",
-->       contentLibraryItemVersion = "3"
-->    },
-->    previousTemplate = 'vim.VirtualMachine:XXX:vm-XXX',
-->    previousTemplateNewName = "template-name",
-->    currentTemplateName = "template-name"
--> }
2024-10-15T14:47:31.538+02:00 warning vpxd[06289] [Originator@6876 sub=Vmomi opID=XXX] VMOMI activation LROXXX, <TCP '127.0.0.1 : 8085'>, <TCP '127.0.0.1 : 45150'>>, vm-XXX, vim.VirtualMachine.checkin, <vim.version.v8_0_3_0, internal, 8.0.3.0>, (null)>, N3Vim5Fault17InvalidDiskFormat9ExceptionE(Fault cause: vim.fault.InvalidDiskFormat
--> )

Environment

vCenter 7.x

vCenter 8.x

Cause

The content library has disabled the promote disk workflow for disks which support native snapshots. This impacts not only vVols but also upcoming vSAN ESA who's disks support native snapshots which can't be disabled.

Resolution

Engineering are aware of the issue and are working towards supporting this feature. There is no ETA when the feature will be available.