Unable to create HCX DR replica: "Disk size(s) of source virtual machine does not match with the selected seed virtual machine"

Products

• VMware HCX

Issue/Introduction

• When trying to protect a new virtual machine using a Seed Virtual machine, you are receiving the error:
  
• The following error is observed in /common/logs/admin/app.log

  <timestamps> UTC [VsphereReplicationService_SvcThread-######, T:'protect', R:protect-########-####-####-####-############, J:########-####-####-####-############, S:PROCESS_PRE_VALIDATE_RESULT, , TxId: ########-####-####-####-############] ERROR DR.OP- Encountered error.
  java.lang.RuntimeException: Validation failed for Protect VM. Reason is ["Disk size(s) of source virtual machine does not match with the selected seed virtual machine"]

Environment

VMware HCX

Cause

The source VM and target VM (seed virtual machine) do not have identical disk characteristics, such as exact disk size or disk type (LSI Logic/BusLogic).

Resolution

Ensure the source VM and target VM have exactly the same disk size, and they are using the same disk type.
Example of a mismatch having the same disk size but a different disk type/controller (buslogic/lsilogic):

• From the ESXi host where the source VM is running, review the .vmdk file descriptor:
  cat <vm-name>.vmdk | grep ddb.adapterType
ddb.adapterType = "buslogic"
• From the ESXi host where the target VM (seed) is running, review the .vmdk file descriptor:
  cat <vm-name>.vmdk | grep ddb.adapterType
ddb.adapterType = "lsilogic"