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Error “Incompatible device backing specified for device ‘0’” when Attempting to Attach Virtual Disk Created by P2V Assistant 2.x to ESX Server 3.0 Virtual Machine

Details

When you attempt to attach a virtual disk created by P2V Assistant to an ESX Server 3.0 virtual machine, the procedure fails with the following error message:
Incompatible device backing specified for device ‘0’

You do not see the virtual disk in the Virtual Infrastructure (VI) Client when browsing for an existing virtual disk file. The virtual disk is only visible when choosing the All Files (*.*) option.

Solution

Import the virtual disk files into VMFS-3 using vmkfstools –i. This solution also applies to files stored on NFS datastores.
 
Explanation
The problematic virtual disk was created using P2V Assistant 2.1.2 or earlier. The resulting virtual disk is in a COW disk format, which is not compatible with ESX Server 3.0. The virtual disk that results from using vmkfstools -i requires you to upgrade the virtual hardware in the same fashion as that for virtual disks created by ESX Server 2.5.x and earlier.

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  • KB Article: 7668613
  • Updated: Aug 14, 2009
  • Products:
    VMware ESX
    VMware P2V Assisstant
  • Product Versions:
    VMware ESX 3.0.x
    VMware P2V Assisstant 2.0.x
    VMware P2V Assisstant 2.1.x