Troubleshooting migration compatibility error: "The operation is not allowed in the current state"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vCenter Server 7.0

Issue/Introduction

vMotion migration operation fails

 

When performing a vMotion migration operation, you see this compatibility error: 

 

Unable to migrate from <source server> to <destination server>: "The operation is not allowed in the current state".

Environment

vCenter 7.x

vCenter 8.x

Cause

This issue can occur if the ESX/ESXi host or a virtual machine is in an unexpected state.

Resolution

Perform one of the below troubleshooting options:

 

• Wait until any pending tasks are complete 
• Cancel any existing task from the ESXi.  

         For more information, see Performing common virtual machine-related tasks with command-line utilities

 

• Restart the VMware vCenter Server service. 

         SSH to the vCenter using username "root"

 

         service-control --restart vmware-vpxd

 

            or

 

         Login to VAMI (vCenter Server Appliance Management Interface) https://IP-FQDN:5480

 

         Under "Services" Tab choose the "VMware vCenter Server" service and restart it.

   

• Restart management agents of the ESXi host. 

          SSH to the ESXi host using username "root" & restart the  below management agents

 

          /etc/init.d/hostd restart

     /etc/init.d/vpxa restart

 

            or

 

     services.sh restart

 

          Note: Before performing the above step, refer to KB - Restarting the Management agents in ESXi

 

• Disconnect and reconnect the host to the vCenter Server.

         Login to the vSphere Client

         Right click on the ESXi host in the Inventory

         Click "Disconnect"

         Note: A disconnect host task appears in the recent tasks pane

         Wait until the task status changes to complete

         Right click on the ESXi host from the Inventory

         Under "Connection" option choose "Connect"

         Note: A reconnect host task appears in the recent tasks pane.

 

         Wait until the task status changes to complete.

Additional Information

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Restarting the Management agents in ESXi