Unable to add the host to vCenter with error : Datastore '##' conflicts with an existing datastore in the datacenter that has the same URL (ds:///vmfs/volumes/########-#######-####-############/), but is backed by different physical storage

Products

• VMware vSAN

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Unable to add the host to vCenter with error :

Datastore '##' conflicts with an existing datastore in the datacenter that has the same URL (ds:///vmfs/volumes/########-#######-####-############/), but is backed by different physical storage.

• Unable to add the host directly to vSAN cluster via quick start with same errors mentioned above.

 

Environment

VMware vSAN (All Versions)

Cause

ESXi host part of the vSAN cluster was forcefully removed from the vCenter while a VM still having an active file references from a local datastore which was reporting to be inaccessible.

Although the datastore was inaccessible, it could not be automatically removed due to the existing dependency from the VM, which prevented proper cleanup and caused the conflict.

Resolution

After verifying that the VM is no longer needed, Remove the VM from inventory which is having the file references on the datastore which is reporting conflicts.

 

Right click the VM > Remove from inventory.

Additional Information

By removing the VM from the inventory:

• All dependent references to the inaccessible local datastore gets cleared.
• vCenter automatically removed the stale datastore entry by eliminating the datastore URL conflict.
• Once the conflict was resolved, The host can be successfully re-added to the vCenter UI or  vSAN cluster using Quick Start.