Failed to deploy OVF package: The specified object VirtualAHCIController0:0 could not be found

Products

• VMware vCenter Server 7.0
• VMware vCenter Server 8.0

Issue/Introduction

OVF deployment fails with following Error Task:

/var/log/vmware/content-library/cls.log:
Failed to deploy OVF package. Cause: The object or item referred to could not be found. The specified object /<vm-name>/VirtualAHCIController0:0 could not be found.vpxd-extension-###-###-###-###@vsphere.local0 ms MM-DD-YYYY, HH:MM:SS PM0 MM-DD-YYYY, HH:MM:SS PM 10 s ###.###.IN Navigates to vCenter server
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Task Name
Deploy OVF template
Status
Failed to deploy OVF package.

/var/log/vmware/vpxd/vpxd.log:

YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS error vpxd[####] [Originator@6876 sub=VAppImport opID=###-01] Caught exception while importing VM: N3Vim5Fault15OvfImportFailed9ExceptionE(Fault cause: vim.fault.OvfImportFailed
--> )
--> 

YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS error vpxd[####] [Originator@6876 sub=Default opID=###] [VpxLRO] -- ERROR lro-233618135 -- ###-###-###-###-0c8640dcaf71(529b4df5-###-###-###-###) -- task-145391 -- vim.Task.setState: :vim.fault.InvalidState
--> Result:
--> (vim.fault.InvalidState) {
-->    faultCause = (vmodl.MethodFault) null,
-->    faultMessage = <unset>
-->    msg = ""
--> }
--> Args:
-->
--> Arg state:
--> "error"
--> Arg result:
-->
--> Arg fault:
--> (vim.fault.OvfImportFailed) {
-->    faultCause = (vim.fault.NotFound) {
-->       faultCause = (vmodl.MethodFault) null,
-->       faultMessage = (vmodl.LocalizableMessage) [
-->          (vmodl.LocalizableMessage) {
-->             key = "com.vmware.ovfs.ovfs-main.ovfs.object_not_found",
-->             arg = (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) [
-->                (vmodl.KeyAnyValue) {
-->                   key = "0",
-->                   value = "/TestVM/VirtualAHCIController0:0"
-->                }
-->             ],
-->             message = "The specified object /TestVM/VirtualAHCIController0:0 could not be found."
-->          }
-->       ]
-->       msg = "The specified object /TestVM/VirtualAHCIController0:0 could not be found."
-->    },
-->    faultMessage = <unset>
-->    msg = ""
--> }

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 7.x
VMware vCenter Server 8.x

Cause

This specific VM deployment error through OVF template occurs due to AHCI controller selected at the source site from where the template is extracted-
Failed to deploy OVF package. Cause: The object or item referred to could not be found. The specified object /#####/VirtualAHCIController0:0 could not be found

Resolution

To resolve the "Failed to deploy OVF package" error associated with a missing VirtualAHCIController0:0, apply one of the following preventive configurations to the source virtual machine before exporting, or use the reactive workaround for an existing machine.

Preventive Options (Before Export)

• Modify the Controller Type: Edit the source virtual machine's hardware settings prior to template extraction and change the storage controller to VMware Paravirtual.

• Exclude the Adapter: During the OVF template export process, configure the export settings to include no virtual adapter.

Reactive Workaround (During/After Deployment)

• Add a Secondary Controller: Add a new storage controller to the affected virtual machine's hardware settings.

• This automatically shifts the problematic AHCI controller to a secondary position and bypasses the missing object error.

Execution Steps

1. Delete the problematic template from the vSphere Content Library.

2. Provision a new virtual machine from the original template that needs to be published.

3. Edit the VM hardware settings and add a new VMware Paravirtual storage controller.

4. Convert the updated virtual machine back into a template and publish it to the Content Library.

5. Deploy a new VM from this updated template to confirm it provisions successfully without the missing object error.