Error "Apply Storage DRS recommendations. The operation is not supported on the object." when cloning VM from template

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0

Issue/Introduction

• Below error is observed in the vCenter UI when trying to clone a VM from a template : 
  
  Operation failed!
Task name Apply Storage DRS recommendations
  #### Cluster The operation is not supported on the object.
  
  

• vSphere is upgraded from 7.x to 8.0U2 or earlier
  
  
• /var/run/log/vmkernel.log will report the following errors : 
  YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.007Z Wa(180) vmkwarning: cpu1:2098883 opID=1c524b5b)WARNING: Nfc: 330: 52751316-5eda-####-883f-######## D: failed to resolve net stack instance due to mismatch with vMotion server. Migration instance: vSphereProvisioning (0x431f44e8fec0). Se$
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.007Z In(182) vmkernel: cpu1:2098883 opID=1c524b5b)MigrateNet: 554: netStack=0x431f44e8fec0(vSphereProvisioning) handle=0x465fc0001388
  
  
• For Cross-cluster cloning, /var/run/log/hostd.log will report NFC_NOT_SUPPORTED errors :
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.007Z Wa(164) Hostd[2098900]: [Originator@6876 sub=Libs opID=a#b#c#] [NFC ERROR]NfcFile_GetInfo: Failed to open file
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.007Z In(166) Hostd[2098883]: [Originator@6876 sub=Libs opID=a#b#c#] [NFC INFO]NfcTransport_HandleInit: Received NFC_UDT_INIT message
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.007Z In(166) Hostd[2098883]: [Originator@6876 sub=Libs opID=a#b#c#] [NFC INFO]NfcTransportPrintUdtSpec: udtUUID 52 75 13 16 5e da f9 90-88 3f ##########
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.007Z In(166) Hostd[2098883]: [Originator@6876 sub=Libs opID=a#b#c#] [NFC INFO]NfcTransportPrintUdtSpec: ips src <##.##.##.###> dst <##.##.##.###>
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.007Z Wa(164) Hostd[2098883]: [Originator@6876 sub=Libs opID=a#b#c#] [NFC ERROR]NfcTransportMigrateInit: Failed to initialize dst migrate module for NFC streaming over vmkernel: Not supported
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.007Z Wa(164) Hostd[2098883]: [Originator@6876 sub=Libs opID=a#b#c#] [NFC ERROR]NfcProcessStreamMsg: Could not process NFC_UDT_INIT message: NFC_NOT_SUPPORTED (The request is not supported)
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.007Z Wa(164) Hostd[2098883]: [Originator@6876 sub=Libs opID=a#b#c#] [NFC ERROR]Sending Nfc error 20: No file exists for given path -- File open failed: The system cannot find the file specified
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.007Z Er(163) Hostd[2098883]: [Originator@6876 sub=Nfcsvc opID=a#b#c#] Read error from the nfcLib: NFC_NOT_SUPPORTED (done = yep)


• While Provisioning is enabled on vmk#, "Current Value" will be null under /config/Net/strOpts/> get /config/Net/strOpts/ProvisioningVmknics 
> vsish
> /config/Net/strOpts/> get /config/Net/strOpts/ProvisioningVmknics
Vmkernel Config Option [string] {
   Default value:
   valid characters:**
   Current value:
   hidden config option:0
   Description:vmknics used by NFC for provisioning operations.
   Host specific config option:0
   Exclude option from config manager:1
   Option update requires reboot:0
   Option update requires maintenance mode:0
}
  

Cause

In vSphere 7.0, the provisioning VMK NIC has a null value in vsish, leading to template cloning failures after upgrading to vSphere 8.0U2 or earlier.

Resolution

This issue has been resolved in vSphere 8.0 Update 3.

Workaround :

If upgrading to vSphere 8.0Update 3 is not feasible, manually configure the network stack by running the following command:

vsish -e set /config/Net/strOpts/ProvisioningVmknics vmk#

Note: Replace # with the number of the provisioning vmk.