Image based backup failure with error: Unable to configure protection for the asset because independent disks are not supported.

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Error message when trying to perform an image based backup: "Unable to configure protection for the asset because independent disks are not supported. Exclude any independent disks that are configured for the virtual machine asset, and then retry the operation."

Environment

vSphere 7.x and 8.x 

Cause

At least one of the disks of the VM that is to be backed up has an independent disk. An independent disk does not participate in virtual machine snapshots. 
That is, the disk state is independent of the snapshot state and creating, consolidating, or reverting to snapshots does not have effect on the disk. Attempts to create snapshots on independent disks will fail.

For more details see: Take Snapshots of a Virtual Machine 

Resolution

To confirm the VM has independent disks, edit the VM settings and look at the disk details as in the example image below:

Remove the independent disk from the VM before the backup and re-add it after the backup operation has completed.
or 
Change the disk from Independent to Dependent.

Additional Information

Take Snapshots of a Virtual Machine 

Snapshot with memory fails with the error: "Failed to take a memory snapshot, since the virtual machine is configured with independent disks"