Replication failure after adding new hard disk to VM

Products

• VMware Live Recovery

Issue/Introduction

Symptom:

• Error seen while trying to replicate the VM “Unable to complete the reconfiguration task at remote site for replication group 'vm-name' (Managed Object ID: 'GID-XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX'): task 'HTID-XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX'. Details: 'The operation is not allowed in the current state'.”
  
  
  
  
• Reconfiguring the replicated VM fails with the same error.
  
  
• The disk was changed to thick to thin and was added at the same time

Environment

VMware vSphere Replication 8.x

VMware vSphere Replication 9.x

Cause

• VM’s hard disk was originally thick provisioned. The attached hard disk was removed from the VM after it had already been replicated multiple times and then a thin provisioned hard disk was attached as a new hard disk in it’s place. Both removal and addition of new disk was done at the same time. 
  
  Steps: Select VM > right click, Edit settings > Remove hard disk and Add the new hard disk > Then save configuration.
  
  
  Note: The same error can be seen in vice-versa (Thin to thick) situation also.
  
  
• VR can no longer match the disk it initially tracked. So, it throws an error suggesting that the VM cannot be replicated. 

Resolution

• Log into the vSphere Web Client and go to Site Recovery → vSphere Replication → Outgoing Replications.
  
  
• Find the VM that is showing replication errors (your affected VM).
  
  
• Right-click on the VM → select "Remove". Confirm the action and keep existing seeds.
  
  
  
  
• Re-add the same VM for replication and make sure all disks (except the new Thin Provisioned disk) are selected with the seeds.