If a Virtual Machine Has Two Disks with Identical File Names, Stored in Different Locations, You Cannot Delete a Snapshot of This Virtual Machine

Yes, having two disks stored in different locations but sharing the same file name (for example, "[storage1] vm/disk.vmdk" and "[storage2] vm/disk.vmdk") causes the snapshot delete operation to fail.

Because VMware Consolidated Backup uses the snapshot functionality, backing up this type of virtual machines will fail as well.

To avoid this problem, make sure the file names for virtual disks are unique.

If your virtual machine already has two disks with identical file names, follow this procedure to rename one of the disks:

1. Make sure no snapshots of the virtual machine exist.

   Note: If your virtual machine already has a snapshot, power off the virtual machine and delete the snapshot. You can use the Snapshot Manager to delete snapshots. From the VI Client, choose Inventory > Virtual Machine > Snapshot > Snapshot Manager.

2. Power off the virtual machine.

3. Remove one of the two disks from the virtual machine, but do not delete the disk.

4. Log in to the ESX Server system and use the following command to rename the disk:
   vmkfstools -E <old_name> <new_name>

   For example, to rename the disk foo.vmdk to bar.vmdk, enter vmkfstools -E foo.vmdk bar.vmdk.

5. From VI Client, add the renamed disk back to the virtual machine.

1. Power off the virtual machine.
    
2. Delete any snapshots.
    
3. Log in to the ESX Server host console.
    
4. Rename the disks:
   vmkfstools -E <old_name> <new_name>
    
   For example, to rename the disk foo.vmdk to bar.vmdk, enter vmkfstools -E foo.vmdk bar.vmdk.
    
5. Use a text editor (vi or nano) to update the file names for each disk.
    
6. Power on the virtual machine from the ESX Server host command line or the Virtual Infrastructure Client connected directly to the ESX Server host. If you start the virtual machine with the Virtual Infrastructur Client, the values cached in Virtual Center will be pushed back to the ESX Server host.