Virtual Machine down in vsan datastore (Could not register vmx file. error "General VSAN Error")

Products

• VMware vSAN 7.x

Issue/Introduction

Can not register a VM from a vmx file. When trying to register, received "General VSAN Error".

 

Environment

VMware vSAN (All Versions)

Cause

Due to improper vSAN stretched cluster configuration vSAN is not able to meet storage policy  compliance 

 

When viewing the  Fault Domain Setup, we do not see a Stretched Cluster configured as configuration type is shown as single site and "Configure stretched cluster" is available and all hosts have been placed in to the primary and secondary fault domains. 

 

 

 

As a result, this Cluster only consists of 2 fault domains and will not be able to meet a cluster wide storage policy of fft1 or higher. 

This is not considered as a functional vSAN Cluster and therefore the Cluster is unable to comply to the expected storage policy and register the vm successfully,

 

Resolution

Verify and validate the stretched cluster configuration is correct by adding in a witness host to allow a storage policy compliance. 

vcsa Cluster --> Configuration --> VSAN --> Fault Domains and reconnected to the preconfigured witness appliance. Select the vSAN Cluster > Configure > vSAN > Fault Domains > Select Configure Stretched Cluster and follow the wizard to change the witness appliance