Request from backup tool for VM snapshot copy failed

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

VM snapshot failed with the below error: 

"Failed to copy source (/vmfs/volumes/<volume_uuid>/<vm_name>/vm_name_#-000002.vmdk) to destination (/vmfs/volumes/<volume_uuid>/<vm_name>/vm_name_#-000001.vmdk): Timeout.
An error occurred while consolidating disks: The operation failed.
Consolidation failed for disk node 'scsi0:#': The operation failed.
Failed to get copy progress while consolidating disks from '/vmfs/volumes/<volume_uuid>/<vm_name>/vm_name_#-000002.vmdk' to '/vmfs/volumes/<volume_uuid>/<vm_name>/vm_name_#-000001.vmdk'."

Environment

vSphere ESXi 8.0.x

Cause

Another backup solution trying to backup the same VM, at the same time. Multiple coinciding snapshot requests coming in to the same VM will cause a conflict.

Resolution

To secure a successful backup of the VM:

• Disable the old backup solution and have just the new backup solution perform the backup task which needs to be tested and thereby adopted. 
• Alternatively, schedule both the backup solutions at different times to avoid the conflict.

Additional Information

VM Consolidation Failed with the Error: Failed to copy source to destination VMDK due to a timeout (414348)