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Applying DRS settings to an ESX host generates an error

Symptoms

  • Cannot apply DRS resource settings to an ESX host
  • Attempting to apply DRS resource settings to an ESX host through vCenter Server may result in the error:

    Unable to apply DRS resource settings on host (Reason: A general system error occurred: Invalid Fault). This can significantly reduce the effectiveness of DRS.

  • The hostd.log file contains entries similar to:

    [2009-02-10 16:25:39.062 'TaskManager' 131554224 info] Task Created : haTask-pool6-vim.ResourcePool.updateChildResourceConfiguration-69471
    [2009-02-10 16:25:39.062 'vm:/vmfs/volumes/4641d0de-5a0b6ca4-7964-0019b9b90cc3/XP_VM/XP_VM.vmx' 131554224 error] Invalid transition requested (VM_STATE_TOOLS_UPGRADING -> VM_STATE_RECONFIGURING): Tasks running
    [2009-02-10 16:25:39.082 'TaskManager' 131554224 info] Task Completed : haTask-pool6 vim.ResourcePool.updateChildResourceConfiguration-69471
    [2009-02-10 16:25:39.084 'Vmomi' 131554224 info] Activation [N5Vmomi10ActivationE:0x8eebb68] : Invoke done [updateChildResourceConfiguration] on [vim.ResourcePool:pool6]
    [2009-02-10 16:25:39.085 'Vmomi' 131554224 info] Throw vim.fault.TaskInProgress
    [2009-02-10 16:25:39.085 'Vmomi' 131554224 info] Result:
    (vim.fault.TaskInProgress) {
    dynamicType = <unset>,
    task = 'vim.Task:haTask-880-vim.VirtualMachine.upgradeTools-57306',
    msg = ""
    }
    [2009-02-10 16:25:39.085 'SOAP' 131554224 error] Method vim.ResourcePool.updateChildResourceConfiguration threw undeclared fault of type vim.fault.TaskInProgress

Resolution

ESX

Apply these measures in escalating order:
  1. Recreate the pools.xml file:
    1. Log in as root to the ESX host with an SSH client.
    2. Run the command:

      # mv /etc/vmware/hostd/pools.xml /tmp
    3. Restart the management agents on the ESX host. For more information, see Restarting the Management agents on an ESX Server (1003490).

      Caution: Ensure Automatic Startup/Shutdown of virtual machines is disabled before running this command or you risk rebooting the virtual machines. For more information, see Restarting hostd (mgmt-vmware) on ESX Server Hosts Restarts Hosted Virtual Machines Where Virtual Machine Startup/Shutdown is Enabled (1003312)

  2. Check virtual machines for pending VMware Tools installations and cancel them.
  3. If there are no pending VMware Tools installations found, you may have to manually install VPXA. For more information on manually installing the VPX Agent, see Verifying and reinstalling the correct version of the VirtualCenter Server agents (1003714).
  4. Remove the ESX host from the DRS cluster, then re-add it to the cluster:

    Note: Before removing the ESX host from the cluster verify if the cluster is EVC Enabled. If the cluster is EVC enabled, vmotion the virtual machines to another ESX host in the same cluster. If the ESX has already being removed from the EVC cluster, see Re-adding an ESX host to an EVC cluster (1012864).
    1. Right-click on the host and click Disconnect in the VI Client.
    2. Right-click on the host and click Remove.
    3. Right-click on the cluster and click Add Host.
    4. Follow the wizard prompts to re-add the host to the cluster.

  5. Disable and re-enable DRS in the cluster:

    Note: Disabling DRS removes all the resource pools in the cluster.
    1. Right-click on the cluster and click Edit Settings.
    2. Deselect Enable VMware DRS. You receive a warning indicating that turning off DRS destroys all resource pools in the cluster.
    3. Click OK to turn off DRS and destroy all resource pools.
    4. Right-click on the cluster and click Edit Settings.
    5. Select Enable VMware DRS and click OK.

ESXi

Apply these measures in escalating order:
  1. Recreate the pools.xml file:
    1. Log in as root to the ESXi troubleshooting mode. For more information, see Tech Support Mode for Emergency Support (1003677).
    2. Issue the command:

      # mv /etc/vmware/hostd/pools.xml /tmp
    3. Restart the management agents on the ESXi host. For more information, see Restarting the Management agents on an ESX or ESXi Server (1003490).

      Caution: Ensure Automatic Startup/Shutdown of virtual machines is disabled before running this command or you risk rebooting the virtual machines. For more information, see Restarting hostd (mgmt-vmware) on ESX Server Hosts Restarts Hosted Virtual Machines Where Virtual Machine Startup/Shutdown is Enabled (1003312).
  2. Check virtual machines for pending VMware Tools installations and cancel them.
  3. If there are no pending VMware Tools installations found, you may have to manually install VPXA.

    To manually install VPXA, see Verifying and reinstalling the correct version of the VirtualCenter Server agents (1003714)
  4. Remove the ESXi host from the DRS cluster, then re-add it to the cluster:

    Note: Before removing the ESX host from cluster verify if the cluster is EVC Enabled. If the cluster is EVC enabled, vMotion the virtual machines to another ESX host in the same cluster first. If the ESX host has already being removed from the EVC cluster, see Re-adding an ESX host to an EVC cluster (1012864).
    1. Right-click on the host and click Disconnect in vSphere Client.
    2. Right-click on the host and click Remove.
    3. Right-click on the cluster and click Add Host.
    4. Follow the wizard prompts to re-add the host to the cluster.

  5. Disable and re-enable DRS in the cluster:

    Note: Disabling DRS removes all the resource pools in the cluster.
    1. Right-click on the cluster and click Edit Settings.
    2. Deselect Enable VMware DRS. You receive a warning indicating that turning off DRS destroys all resource pools in the cluster.
    3. Click OK to turn off DRS and destroy all resource pools.
    4. Right-click on the cluster and click Edit Settings.
    5. Select Enable VMware DRS and click OK.

Additional Information

Note: It was reported on one occasion that when logging directly into the ESX host encountering the issue with a vSphere Client a hung VMware Tools install was found. The tools install was resolved by right clicking on the VM to complete the install. Once the tools install was completed both HA and DRS reconfigured successfully on the cluster.

Tags

enable-drs  drs-advance-options

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