vMotion failed with error “No valid database found while restoring the namespace fields.”

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

vMotion fails with below error:

Migration failed after VM memory precopy. Please check vmkernel log for true error.

• In the vmware.log file, there is the following entry similar to:

  2025-11-05T09:45:56.226Z In(05) vmx -   restoring NamespaceMgr 
  2025-11-05T09:45:56.226Z In(05) vmx - NamespaceMgrCheckpoint: No valid database found while restoring the namespace fields. 
  2025-11-05T09:45:56.226Z In(05) vmx - Progress 101% (none) 
  2025-11-05T09:45:56.227Z In(05) vmx - MigrateSetStateFinished: type=2 new state=MIGRATE_FROM_VMX_FINISHED 
  2025-11-05T09:45:56.227Z In(05) vmx - MigrateSetState: Transitioning from state MIGRATE_FROM_VMX_CHECKPT (11) to MIGRATE_FROM_VMX_FINISHED (12). 
  2025-11-05T09:45:56.227Z In(05) vmx - Migrate: Caching migration error message list: 
  2025-11-05T09:45:56.227Z In(05) vmx - [msg.checkpoint.migration.failedReceive] Failed to receive migration. 
  2025-11-05T09:45:56.227Z In(05) vmx - [msg.checkpoint.mrestoregroup.failed] An error occurred restoring the virtual machine state during migration. 
  2025-11-05T09:45:56.227Z In(05) vmx - Msg_Post: Error 
  2025-11-05T09:45:56.227Z In(05) vmx - [msg.checkpoint.mrestoregroup.failed] An error occurred restoring the virtual machine state during migration. 
  2025-11-05T09:45:56.227Z In(05) vmx - [msg.checkpoint.migration.failedReceive] Failed to receive migration. 
  2025-11-05T09:45:56.227Z In(05) vmx - ---------------------------------------- 
  2025-11-05T09:45:56.228Z In(05) vmx - Module 'CheckpointLate' power on failed. 

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 8.x

 

 

Cause

The vMotion failure is caused by corruption or invalid entries in the Namespace Manager database file (namespacemgr.db) associated with the VM.

Resolution

To resolve the issue, follow the steps below:

1. Powered off the VM.
2. Connected via SSH to the ESXi host.
3. Navigated to the VM directory:
   cd /vmfs/volumes/<datastore>/<vm-folder>/
4. Edited the VMX file:
   vi <vm-name>.vmx
1. Searched for entries related to db (specifically namespacemgr.db) and removed the corresponding line.
2. Saved and exited using ESC, then:wq! and pressed Enter.
5. Created a temporary folder:
   mkdir test
6. Moved the .db file to the temporary folder:
   mv <vm-name>.db test/
7. Reloaded the.VMX configuration file (Reference: Broadcom KB 343248)
1. Obtained the VM ID:
   vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms | grep -i <vm-name>
2. Reloaded the configuration:
   vim-cmd vmsvc/reload <Vmid>
8. Powered on the VM.
9. Performed vMotion

Note: Ensure that you take snapshots before making any changes.