Storage vmotion of VMs completes successfully, but VMs are still listing under old datastore.

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

An administrator performing Storage VMotions, finds that they complete, but the VM(s) still show that they are using the datastore from which they migrated from.

Environment

vSphere (All versions)

ESXi (All versions)

Cause

Virtual machine configuration files (vmx file) located in the VM folder, contain all the details of the running VM, including the files it uses. When a Storage VMotion is performed, only these parts are moved with the VM, and anything left behind are essentially orphaned.

However, there is another situation where the datastore will be still referenced. If the VM had an ISO associated with that datastore, and is not connected, but set to use it, it can lead to a reference to the original datastore.

Resolution

If an ISO is associated on the VM in this situation, the resolution is to remove/disconnect this on the VM settings.

Procedure:

• Right click subject VM and choose Edit Settings
  • On the Hardware tab, scroll down to you find the option for CD/DVD Media
    • If applicable, uncheck the "Connected" check box
  • Drop down the option for CD/DVD Media and change this to Client Device
  • Close edit settings for the changes to take effect

Additional Information

VMs registered to old datastore with no data related to the virtual machines

Virtual Machine displays two datastores in Summary tab despite all its files being located on one datastore