vMotioning virtual machines fails with Error: Failed to attach filter 'active_drive' to scsi

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• Virtual machine vMotion fails between ESXi hosts.
  
  
• In the vSphere Client prompts the error:
  

The VM failed to resume on the destination during early power on. Module DevicePowerOn power on failed. Unable to create virtual SCSI device for scsi0:0, '/vmfs/volumes/datastore/virtual_machine_folder/virtual_machine.vmdk' Failed to attach filter 'active_drive' to scsi0:0: msg.vmk.status.VMK_NOT_FOUND (195887107).

• In the /var/log/vmware.log file, there are entries similar to:
  
  YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.957Z| vmx| I120: [msg.migrate.resume.fail] The VM failed to resume on the destination during early power on
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.957Z| vmx| I120: [msg.migrate.resume.fail] The VM failed to resume on the destination during early power on.
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.957Z| vmx| I120: Msg_Post: Error
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.957Z| vmx| I120: [msg.scsi.esx.filterAttachmentFailed] Failed to attach filter 'active_drive' to scsi0:0: Not found (195887107).
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.957Z| vmx| I120: [msg.scsi.esx.virtualDevFailed] Unable to create virtual SCSI device for scsi0:0, '/vmfs/volumes/datastore/virtual_machine_folder/virtual_machine.vmdk'
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.957Z| vmx| I120: [msg.moduletable.powerOnFailed] Module DevicePowerOn power on failed.

• In the /var/log/hostd.log file:
  
  YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.964Z [33999B70 verbose 'Vmsvc.vm:/vmfs/volumes/datastore/virtual_machine_folder/virtual_machine.vmx'] Handling message _vmx1: Failed to attach filter 'active_drive' to scsi0:0: Not found (195887107).
--> Unable to create virtual SCSI device for scsi0:0, '/vmfs/volumes/datastore/virtual_machine_folder/virtual_machine.vmdk'
--> Module DevicePowerOn power on failed.
--> The VM failed to resume on the destination during early power on.
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.975Z [33001B70 verbose 'Vmsvc.vm:/vmfs/volumes/datastore/virtual_machine_folder/virtual_machine.vmx'] VMotionLastStatusCb: Failed with error 7: The VM failed to resume on the destination during early power on.
message = "Failed to attach filter 'active_drive' to scsi0:0: Not found (195887107).
message = "Unable to create virtual SCSI device for scsi0:0, '/vmfs/volumes/datastore/virtual_machine_folder/virtual_machine.vmdk'
reason = "The VM failed to resume on the destination during early power on.

Note: The log excerpts are examples. Date, time, and environmental variables may vary depending on the environment.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 5.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.x

Cause

This issue usually occurs if there is a VIB module installed on source ESXi host which is not present on destination ESXi host.

Resolution

To resolve this issue follow one of these options:

 

Note: Removing the VIB from the ESXi host may not remove the entry from the each virtual machine's .vmx file.

 

• If all the virtual machines are experiencing the issue, install the missing VIB on the destination ESXi host by configuring the same software as the source ESXi host.
• If only handful of virtual machines are experiencing issue:
  1. Shut down the affected virtual machine.
  2. Connect to the ESXi host the virtual machine is on using SSH and root credentials. For more information see Using ESXi Shell in ESXi 5.x and 6.0 (2004746).
  3. Navigate to the virtual machines .vmx file using this command:
     
     cd /vmfs/volumes/datastore/virtual_machine_folder/
      
  4. Open the .vmx file with a text editor:
     
     vi virtual_machine.vmx
      
  5. Add a # before any filters that contain scsi0:0.filters.
  6. Save the changes and exit the text editor.
  7. Migrate the virtual machine to a different ESXi host.
  8. Power on the virtual machine.
      

Additional Information

Using ESXi Shell in ESXi 5.x and 6.x