'Delete from disk' and 'remove from Inventory' options grayed out for Virtual Machines on vSphere Client

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• In a vSphere environment, management options for Virtual Machines such as Delete from disk and Remove from Inventory may appear grayed out in the vSphere Client.
  
  
• This often occurs when third-party software or NSX Manager protects a VM but fails to clean up protection entries after a task fails or a VM is manually moved.
  
  
• The options Delete from disk and Remove from Inventory are grayed out for specific VMs in the vCenter inventory.
  
  
• The VM can be deleted successfully when logging directly into the ESXi Host Client.
  
  
• Errors such as "The method is disabled by..." may appear in logs or when attempting operations via API.
  
  
• This frequently occurs with orphaned NSX Edge nodes after failed upgrades (e.g., NSX 4.2.4) or redeployments.

Environment

• VMware vCenter Server 8.x
  
  
• VMware NSX 4.x

Cause

• The affected Virtual Machines have active protection entries residing in the vCenter Server Database (VCDB) vpx_disabled_methods table.
  
  
• These entries are registered during deployment or protection tasks to prevent accidental modification.
  
  
• If a task fails or a node is replaced manually, these entries may persist, disabling vSphere Client management tasks even for SSO administrators.

Resolution

To restore the methods, follow one of the options below:

Option 1: Using vSphere Client (8.0 U3 and later)

1. Navigate to the affected Virtual Machine in the vCenter Inventory.
   
   
2. Select Configure > Disabled Methods.
   
   
3. Select the required method and click Enable.

Option 2: Using vCenter Managed Object Browser (MOB)

1. Identify the VM's MOB ID (MOID):
   
   
   1. Select the affected Virtual Machine in the vCenter Inventory.
      
      
   2. Check the browser URL for the string VirtualMachine:vm-xx (where vm-xx is the MOID).
      
      
2. Access the MOB URL: https://<vCenter_FQDN_or_IP>/mob/?moid=AuthorizationManager&method=enableMethods.
   
   
3. Log in using the vCenter Server's Local SSO account (e.g., [email protected]).
   
   
4. For the entity parameter, enter the MOID identified in step 1 (e.g., vm-xx).
   
   
5. For the method parameter, add the following strings one at a time or as an array:

   1. Destroy_Task

   2. UnregisterVM 

6. Click Invoke Method.
   
   
7. Refresh the vSphere Client and verify the options are now active.

•  

Option 3: Using vCenter Postgres Database

Warning: Ensure you have a valid backup and snapshot of the vCenter Server before performing database modifications.

1. Stop the vpxd service: 

   service-control --stop vpxd

2. Enter the vCenter Postgres Database: 

   /opt/vmware/vpostgres/current/bin/psql -d VCDB -U postgres

3. Identify the ID for the Virtual Machine: 

   select id, file_name from vpx_vm where file_name like '%VM_NAME%';

4. Query the disabled methods to find entries for the affected VM: 

   select * from vpx_disabled_methods where entity_mo_id_val = 'vm-ID';

5. Remove the disabled methods: 

   DELETE FROM vpx_disabled_methods WHERE entity_mo_id_val = 'vm-ID';

6. Exit the database using 

   \q

    
7. Restart services:

   service-control --start vpxd

Additional Information

• To speak to a Technical Support Engineer, see KB 206567 - Contact Broadcom support