Error: "vApp network <network_name> is not deployed" when trying to change Virtual Machine Network

Products

• VMware Cloud Director

Issue/Introduction

• Attempting to reconfigure the Virtual Machine's (VM's) Network Interface Card (NIC) throws an error in VMware Cloud Director(VCD):

  [ ########-####-####-####-########81e1 ] vApp network <network_name> is not deployed. Power on the vApp and re-try the operation.

• The VM appears connected to a network that no longer exists within the current tenant context or Organization VDC.
• Within the log file /opt/vmware/vcloud-director/logs/vcloud-container-debug.log the following is seen: 
   
  com.vmware.vcloud.api.presentation.service.InternalServerErrorException: vApp network <network_name> is not deployed. Power on the vApp and re-try the operation.
at com.vmware.vcloud.dl.net.networkedvm.impl.DefaultNetworkedVmManager.getAttachedNetworkVALRef(DefaultNetworkedVmManager.java:438)
at com.vmware.vcloud.dl.net.networkedvm.impl.DefaultNetworkedVmManager.createDeployedNicSpec(DefaultNetworkedVmManager.java:376)
at com.vmware.vcloud.dl.net.networkedvm.impl.DefaultNetworkedVmManager.prepareDeployedNicConfigSpec(DefaultNetworkedVmManager.java:328)

Environment

VMware Cloud Director 10.6.1.1

Cause

This issue occurs in VCD when a VM references a legacy or orphaned vApp network that is currently undeployed (powered off or removed from the VCD DB).

Since VCD is attempting to resolve the active virtual application layer reference for the existing NIC configuration before allowing updates, the operation fails if that underlying vApp network infrastructure is not active or present in the Org VDC database.

Resolution

To resolve the issue power off the target VM(s) exhibiting the issue and then try changing the network. To power off the VM you can follow the document: Power off a VM in VCD.
After powering off the VM you will be able to change to the intended network from the VCD UI.  Now, power on the VM again and it will be attached to the correct network. To power on the VM you can use the document:  Power on a VM in VCD.