Output of 'esxcli vsan debug object list' with '--vm-name' option returns unexpected entries.

Products

• VMware vSAN

Issue/Introduction

'esxcli vsan debug object list' is an ESXi CLI option for enumerating and assessing objects stored on vsanDatastore.

Using the '--vm-name' option (e.g. '--vm-name=TestVM123') allows users to just display the vSAN objects (e.g. namespace, vmdk, vswp etc.) associated with a particular VM (e.g. VM with exact name 'TestVM123' here).

Environment

vSAN 8.x

Cause

Due to a known issue, if incorrect values are used that reference a partial VM name or one that no longer exists (e.g. '--vm-name=TestVM') will return entries for unexpected/other VMs/objects stored on the cluster.

Resolution

If running on ESXi version prior to 8.0.3 P06/3g, then ensure the exact/correct name of the VM in question is used when using the '--vm-name' option and cross-check the returned objects to ensure they are the intended objects before any action is taken against them (e.g. deletion or other modification).

Update ESXi to version 8.0.3 P06/3g which contains a fix for this issue.