Stretch Cluster task fails on "validate cluster for Zero VMs"
Article ID: 435163
Updated On:
Products
Issue/Introduction
When stretching a cluster - the task fails in VCF Operations for "validate cluster for Zero VMs" with the remediation message: Please make sure that vSAN cluster to be stretched has at least one virtual machine.
Environment
VCF Operations 9.x
Cause
By default there are VMs created by the "create cluster" workflow from VCF operations. In corner cases where no powered on VMs are present - the stretch workflow can fail with an error.
In VCF Operations - the task fails on "validate cluster for Zero VMs" , and in /var/log/vmware/vcf/domainmanager.log on SDDC Manager. It can be seen that when vCenter is checking CLUSTER_NAME, that it was not able to find VM's in a powered on state.
2026-03-31T12:47:44.179+0000 DEBUG [c.v.e.s.c.c.v.vsphere.VcManagerBase,dm-exec-4] Virtual Machine in the cluster domain-c## are []:
2026-03-31T12:47:44.179+0000 DEBUG [vcf_dm,] [c.v.e.s.s.t.ValidateClusterForZeroVMAction,dm-exec-4] VSAN cluster CLUSTER_NAME has Zero VMs
2026-03-31T12:47:44.182+0000 ERROR [c.v.e.s.o.model.error.ErrorFactory,dm-exec-4] [AS0MFR] CLUSTER_HAS_ZERO_VMs VSAN Cluster CLUSTER_NAME has no virtual machines.
com.vmware.evo.sddc.orchestrator.exceptions.OrchTaskException: VSAN Cluster CLUSTER_NAME has no virtual machines.
Resolution
Ensure there is at least one powered VM in the target cluster before initiating the stretch workflow. There are two workarounds for this if the error is present mid workflow:
- Enable vCLS on the target cluster - (ensure vCLS is enabled - see Disable vCLS on a Cluster via Retreat Mode).
- Create a temporary VM, (OS optional, not needed) in the target cluster with low resources, power on the temporary VM and resume the Stretch Workflow within VCF Operations. When the task succeeds - remove the temporary VM.
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