Error: The vSphere Replication Management Server is in suspended subscription mode in VMware Live Recovery

Products

• VMware Live Recovery

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms :

After upgrading or configuring VMware Live Recovery (VLR) appliances, one or more site pairs report the following error in the Site Recovery UI:

• Error - "The vSphere Replication Management Server is in suspended subscription mode. Details: 'Automatically enabled suspended mode.'"
• The replication service may appear locked or deactivated.

Environment

• VMware Live Recovery 9.0.5, 9.0.5.1
• Environments using a mix of embedded licenses and cloud-based subscriptions.

Cause

The vSphere Replication Management Server (VRMS) appliance is incorrectly configured as a "Cloud Agent." In this mode, the appliance continuously attempts to validate billing status with VMware Cloud. If the validation fails (often due to the site pair actually needing an embedded license rather than a subscription), the service enters "Suspended Mode" to prevent unlicensed usage.

The /var/log/vmware/hms/hms.log file captures the failed cloud handshake:

2026-06-24 03:57:07.184 INFO response.filter.I18nActivationResponseFilter | The localized message is: The vSphere Replication Management Server is in suspended subscription mode. Details: 'Automatically enabled suspended mode.'

2026-06-24 03:57:07.185 DEBUG vlsi.step.InvocationStep [tcweb-6] (..vlsi.step.InvocationStep) {} [] | vmomiOp-finish [method: HmsServiceInstance.getCloudContent; target: service-instance; user: N/A; client: ###.#.#.#:42758; operationID=########-####-####-####-############-HMS-37; sessionID=########]; time: 3 ms

2026-06-24 03:57:07.185 WARN  jvsl.security.authorization [tcweb-7] (..security.authorization.JvslActivationValidator) {} [] | [method: HmsRemoteSiteManager.HmsRemoteSiteManagerGetHmsInfo; target: site-manager; user: N/A; client: ###.#.#.#:42752; operationID=########-####-####-####-############-HMS-38; sessionID=5da4a43b] Access Denied: "getHmsInfo(servers)"...

(vim.fault.NotAuthenticated) {

   faultCause = null,

      faultMessage = null,

   object = MoRef: type = HmsRemoteSiteManager, value = site-manager, serverGuid = ########-####-####-####-############,

   privilegeId = HmsRemote.com.vmware.vcHms.Hms.View,

   missingPrivileges = null

} 

 

Resolution

If these symptoms match the issue, please open a Broadcom support case using the following link - Contact Broadcom support