Error: "Unable to apply DRS resource settings on host" after a Powered on VM moves to a Resource Pool

Products

• VMware vCenter Server 8.0
• VMware vCenter Server 7.0
• VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0
• VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0

Issue/Introduction

An ESXi host in vCenter Server reports the following error around 10 minutes after moving a powered on VM to a resource pool:

Unable to apply DRS resource settings on host. This can significantly reduce the effectiveness of DRS.

The following warning message is found in the /var/log/vmware/vpxd.log on vCenter Server:

Receive ConfigIssue when processing RP updates from host [vim.HostSystem:{host moid},{host IP address}] type vim.fault.InsufficientMemoryResourcesFault on ManagedObject vim.ResourcePool:{resource pool moid} for method vim.ResourcePool.moveInto

Environment

This issue impacts ESXi versions below 8.0 U3.

Cause

This error could occur on ESXi if there is a miscalculation of the VM's memory requirements during the move into the resource pool. This miscalculation leads to a synchronization issue between ESXi and DRS in vCenter. In this case, ESXi continues to recognize the VM as part of the original resource pool while DRS calculates off of the new resource pool. 

Resolution

This issue is fixed in ESXi 8.0 U3.

Workaround

Avoid changing VM resource pools while a VM is powered on. If the error happens after a powered-on VM is moved to a resource pool follow the below steps:

1. Power off the VM.
2. Move the VM to the desired resource pool.
3. Power the VM back on.

Additional Information

The error "Unable to apply DRS resource settings on host. This can significantly reduce the effectiveness of DRS." is not sufficient to match to the issue in this article. If there is no associate to a powered-on VM moving to a resource pool, then refer to KB 1028351: "Unable to apply DRS resource setting on host" error in vCenter Server.