VMware Converter fails at 99% converting RHEL 9.x systems

Products

• Converter

Issue/Introduction

• Converting RHEL 9.x systems fail at 99% using VMware Converter.
  
  
• The VMware Converter UI error message shows
  

   "FAILED: An error occurred during the conversion: 'Install: Failed with return code 127, and message:"

   

• The vmware-converter-server.log shows the same error message:

  YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.sss error vmware-converter-server[08296] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] [task,352] [LRO] Unexpected Exception: Fault cause: converter.fault.CloneFault
  -->
  YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.sss info vmware-converter-server[08296] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] [task,381] [task-1] -- ERROR -- Convert: converter.fault.CloneFault
  --> (converter.fault.CloneFault) {
  -->    faultCause = (vmodl.MethodFault) null,
  -->    faultMessage = <unset>,
  -->    description = "Install: Failed with return code: 127, and message:
  --> "
  -->    msg = ""
  --> }

 

 

• The vmware-converter-worker.log shows the errors:

  YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.sss info vmware-converter-worker[03800] [Originator@6876 sub=task-2] Successfully reconfigured target vm
  YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.sss info vmware-converter-worker[03800] [Originator@6876 sub=task-2] CloneTask updates, state: 4, percentage: 99, xfer rate (Bps): 190033920
  YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.sss info vmware-converter-worker[03800] [Originator@6876 sub=task-2] CloneTask failed
  YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.sss error vmware-converter-worker[03800] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] Task failed:

   

 

• The vmware-converter-helper.log shows the error:

  YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.sss warning vmware-converter-helper[00631] Command grub2-mkconfig returned with code 1  
  YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.sss verbose vmware-converter-helper[00631] RunCommandOnTarget: command: grub-mkconfig -o /boot/efi/EFI/redhat/grub.cfg  
  YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.sss info vmware-converter-helper[00572] [Originator@6876 sub=task-1] RunCommandOnTarget: command /usr/lib/vmware-converter/chrootAndExec.sh /mnt/p2v-src-root grub-mkconfig -o /boot/efi/EFI/redhat/grub.cfg
  --> return code: 127, output: , stderr:  * /mnt/p2v-src-root/dev has 3 files
  --> chroot: failed to run command 'grub-mkconfig': No such file or directory
  -->  * user script returning code 127
  -->  * unmounting /mnt/p2v-src-root/dev /mnt/p2v-src-root/dev/pts /mnt/p2v-src-root/proc /mnt/p2v-src-root/sys and /mnt/p2v-src-root/run
  
  YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.sss warning vmware-converter-helper[00631] Command grub-mkconfig returned with code 127  
  YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.sss error vmware-converter-helper[00631] Install: Failed with return code: 127

 

 

Environment

VMware Converter 8.x

VMware Converter 9.x

Cause

During conversion, the helper ISO first tries to run grub2-mkconfig on the target VM. If that fails, it falls back to grub-mkconfig.

The command failed because grub2-mkconfig refused to overwrite the file at /boot/efi/EFI/redhat/grub.cfg and instead recommended using /boot/grub2/grub.cfg

Resolution

VMware by Broadcom Engineering is actively investigating this issue.

 

Workaround

The following steps operate under the assumption that the clone task completes but fails at the final step involving grub.cfg and grub-mkconfig.

By default, the VMware converter cleans up the clone if its conversion task fails.

The below workaround can be used to set its configuration to not clean up the clone upon failure.

1. Connect to the machine where VMware vCenter Converter is installed.
   
   
   
2. Navigate to the directory where VMware vCenter Converter files are stored:
   

   %PROGRAMDATA%\VMware\VMware vCenter Converter Standalone

   
   
   
3. Make a copy of the converter-worker.xml file.
   
   
   
4. Edit the original converter-worker.xml to change the following properties:
   1. useSourcePasswordInHelperVM as true
   2. powerOffHelperVm as false
      
      
      
5. Restart the vmware-converter-worker service to pick up the above changes.
   
   
   
6. Contact RedHat support for assistance with booting the VM through the rescue ISO on its next conversion.

Additional Information

Japanese KB: VMware Converter が RHEL 9.x システムの変換を 99% の時点で失敗する