Virtual Disk shows 0 MB and unable resize it or create snapshots

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

In the vSphere Web Client and ESXi Host Client a VMs virtual disk shows 0 MB capacity, it's unable to be resized, and you can't create snapshots.

Trying to view the VMDK showed the following with createType="monolithicSparse"

Environment

vCenter 8.0

Cause

The VMs were originally created outside of vSphere and were most likely uploaded directly to a vSAN datastore.

Resolution

The issue was resolved by using VMware Converter to create a new VM. Converter treated the VM like it was a physical server and copied the disk contents at the file level in the OS to brand new VMDKs that would be created on the converted VM.

Additional Information

VMware vCenter Converter download
https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/389242

• Download VMware vCenter Converter Standalone from the Broadcom support portal.
• VMware vCenter Converter is an essential tool for users of VMware Workstation, enabling seamless physical-to-virtual machine conversions. While bundled with Workstation, it installs independently and supports individual version upgrades, offering flexibility and efficiency for virtualization tasks.