Error: "An error occurred while deleting a snapshot: The specified snapshot does not exist" appears in the vSphere Client when a snapshot deletion fails.

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• The virtual machine snapshot deletion task fails with the following error message: "An error occurred while deleting a snapshot: The specified snapshot does not exist" and the hard disk size is incorrectly reported as 0 MB in the vSphere Client.
• Inspection of the datastore confirms that snapshot files (.vmdk delta files) are still present.
• The virtual machine is actively running on a snapshot disk.
• The /var/run/log/hostd.log file contains the following entries:
  
  YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS Db(###) Hostd[########]: [Originator@#### sub=Vigor.Vmsvc.vm:/vmfs/volumes/datastore_name/vm_name/vm_name.vmx opID=########-#######-auto-#####-h5:########-##-##-#### sid=######## user=vpxuser:####\username] Delete snapshot 1 and its children message: An error occurred while deleting a snapshot: The specified snapshot does not exist.

YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS Wa(###) Hostd[#######]: [Originator@#### sub=Vmsvc.vm:/vmfs/volumes/datastore_name/vm_name/vm_name.vmx opID=########-#######-auto-#####-h5:########-##-##-#### sid=######## user=vpxuser:####\username] UpdateStorageAccessibilityStatusInt: The datastore ##.##.##.##:VMware is not accessible
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS Wa(###) Hostd[#######]: [Originator@#### sub=Vmsvc.vm:/vmfs/volumes/datastore_name/vm_name/vm_name.vmx opID=########-#######-auto-#####-h5:########-##-##-#### sid=######## user=vpxuser:####\username] FetchUpdatedLayout: VM storage inaccessible.

YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS Wa(###) Hostd[#######]: [Originator@#### sub=Vmsvc.vm:/vmfs/volumes/datastore_name/vm_name/vm_name.vmx opID=########-#######-auto-#####-h5:########-##-##-#### sid=######## user=vpxuser:####\username] File - failed to get objectId, '/vmfs/volumes/datastore_name/vm_name/vm_name.vmx': Operation not supported (##)

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 8.x
VMware vCenter Server 8.x

Cause

The virtual machine has a CD/DVD drive configured to use an ISO file located on a NAS datastore that is currently inaccessible. This inaccessible backing device causes storage stack timeouts. Consequently, the ESXi hostd agent cannot properly enumerate or lock the virtual machine's storage chain, which manifests as a 0 MB disk size and prevents the snapshot consolidation engine from running.

Resolution

1. Log in to Host Client on which the virtual machine resides.
2. Right-click the affected virtual machine and select Edit Settings.
3. Locate the CD/DVD drive in the virtual hardware list.
4. Change the device backing from "Datastore ISO File" to "Client Device".
5. Uncheck the "Connect At Power On" and "Connected" options.
6. Click OK to apply the configuration changes.
7. Run the Delete Snapshot or Consolidate Snapshots task on the virtual machine.

Note: If the NAS datastore is permanently decommissioned or stuck in an All Paths Down (APD) state, safely unmount and detach the datastore from the affected ESXi host(s).