Exporting a VM to an OVF template fails with error "File ds:///vmfs/volumes/<Datastore-UUID>/null" was not found"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• Exporting a virtual machine to an OVF template from vSphere Client or ESXi host client fails with error:
  

  File ds:///vmfs/volumes/<Datastore-UUID>/null" was not found

  Failed to export OVF package. ThrowableProxy.cause A general system error occurred: Export operation failed.

• The following log seen in vCenter /var/log/vmware/vpxd.log:
  

  info vpxd[06748] [Originator@6876 sub=Default opID=58f96da4-01] [VpxLRO] -- ERROR task-17492 -- <VM-Name> -- VirtualMachine.ExportVmLRO: vim.fault.FileNotFound:
  --> Result:
  --> (vim.fault.FileNotFound) {
  -->    faultCause = (vmodl.MethodFault) null,
  -->    faultMessage = <unset>,
  -->    file = "ds:///vmfs/volumes/<Datastore-UUID>/null"

• Exporting OVF templates through OVF Tool completes successfully. For more details about OVF Tool, see OVF Tool Command Syntax to Export and Deploy OVA/OVF Packages.

 

Environment

VMware vCenter Server

VMware vSphere ESXi

Cause

This issue occurs because the Virtual Machine configuration points to an invalid or "null" backing file for a connected device, most commonly the CD/DVD Drive.

Resolution

To resolve the issue, the invalid CD/DVD drive should be removed from the VM.

• Log in to the vSphere Client.
• Right-click the affected Virtual Machine and select Edit Settings.
• Locate CD/DVD Drive.
  Note: If the VM has multiple CD/DVD drives, ensure you check all of them.
• Change the backing mode to Client Device.
• Ensure the following checkboxes are unchecked:
  • Connected
  • Connect at power on
• Click OK to save the changes.
• Retry the Export OVF operation via the vSphere Client.