P2V conversion for a powered-on Linux VM fails at 1% with the error: "Unable to connect to the Converter helper server on the destination virtual machine"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

When attempting to convert a powered-on Linux machine using VMware Converter, the process fails at 1% with the following error message:

"Error: Unable to connect to the Converter helper server on the destination virtual machine." 

In the log file vmware-converter-worker.log located at (C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware vCenter Converter Standalone\logs), you may see entries related to this error indicating that the converter server is not able to connect to the helper service running inside the destination VM. The logs show that the helper has successfully acquired an IP address but the connection on port 443 fails.

vmware-converter-worker.log:

<YYYY-MM-DD>T<time> info vmware-converter-worker[00196] [Originator@6876 sub=task-3] Got remote helper VM IP addresses as: ##.##.##.##
<YYYY-MM-DD>T<time> info vmware-converter-worker[00196] [Originator@6876 sub=task-3] Connecting to Converter Helper on ##.##.##.##:443 over TCP/IP over SSL
<YYYY-MM-DD>T<time> info vmware-converter-worker[00196] [Originator@6876 sub=task-3] Connecting to Converter Helper with retry, retryCount 600, interval 1, times left 600
<YYYY-MM-DD>T<time> warning vmware-converter-worker[01204] [Originator@6876 sub=IO.Connection] Failed to connect; <io_obj p:0x0ab####, h:2176, <TCP '0.0.0.0 : 50450'>, <TCP '##.##.##.## : 443'>>, e: 10060(A connection attempt failed because the connected party did not properly respond after a period of time, or established connection failed because connected host has failed to respond), duration: 21031msec

Environment

VMware vCenter Converter Standalone

Cause

The converter server is not able to connect to the helper service running inside the destination VM over port 443.

Resolution

• Ensure that port 443 is open to communicate from the converter server to the target/helper VM.
• Check for any network/firewall rule which is preventing port 443 for communication.

Additional Information

Kindly refer the below KB for port requirements for windows and linux P2V conversion and existing VM V2V conversion:
Required VMware vCenter Converter ports