"Detected an invalid snapshot configuration" error creating a snapshot
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"Detected an invalid snapshot configuration" error creating a snapshot

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Article ID: 318905

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Updated On:

Products

VMware vCenter Server VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:
  • Attempting to take a snapshot fails with:
Detected an invalid snapshot configuration. An error occurred while taking a snapshot: A required file was not found.



Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.0
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.0
VMware vCenter Server 6.7.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.5
VMware vCenter Server 7.0.x

Cause

This issue occurs when there are snapshots that are not part of a snapshot chain (orphaned snapshots ) in the virtual machine directory while the VM is not running on snapshots.

Resolution

  1. Verify the VM is running on the base disk by editing the VM settings.
  2. Select the VM that is having this issue and click the hard disk and verify the disk mounted:
    • Snapshot will look like VMName-00000x.vmdk (For example VMName-000001.vmdk)
    • Base disks will look like VMName.vmdk
  1. Remove any existing snapshots.
  2. Verify VM is now running on the base disks. If not, STOP IMMEDIATLY, DO NOT CONTINUE.
  3. Make a note of the datastore where the VM is stored.
  4. Connect to the ESXi host with an SSH session.
  5. Navigate to the datastore from step 4.
cd /vmfs/volumes/DATASTORE/VM_Name/
 

Note: alternatively, you may use the vCenter or Host UI to perform the following steps.

8. List all the files in the folder with: ls -l
9. Look for snapshot files similar to VMName-00000x.vmdk
10. Create a temporary directory to store the snapshots:
mkdir delete_me
11. Move the snapshot files to the temporary directory:
mv snapshot_file ./delete_me

For example:

mv VMName-000001.vmdk ./delete_me

Note: Healthy snapshots will be 17MB or larger.
12. Move vmname.vmsd to the temporary folder.
mv VMName.vmsd ./delete_me
 
13. Create a snapshot.


Additional Information

Impact/Risks:
  • Cannot take snapshot from this virtual machine.
  • Snapshot based backup will not complete successfully.


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