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Symptoms



An Application Consistent snapshot of a Windows Virtual Machine will fail with the following error messages below:

INFO 1.49332E+12 Thu 27 Apr 2017 13:46:30 CDT 3 ----- Snapshot task 3 completed for VMSnap Only - No Snapmirror - 8 Hour storage work flow in 1 min(s) 27 sec(s) ms and ended with status COMPLETED. -----
ERROR 1.49332E+12 Thu 27 Apr 2017 13:46:30 CDT 4 Size of manifest file /opt/virgo/work/tmp/VM_Name_20170427134514.zip for vm VM_Name is only 450 bytes. Snapshot is considered not application consistent
ERROR 1.49332E+12 Thu 27 Apr 2017 13:46:30 CDT 4 Failed to protect the following databases. Total unprotected databases 1
ERROR 1.49332E+12 Thu 27 Apr 2017 13:46:30 CDT 4 Unprotected database:VM_Name->People [[[Size of manifest file /opt/virgo/work/tmp/VM_Name_20170427134514.zip for vm VM_Name is only 450 bytes. Snapshot is considered not application consistent]]]

This failure can occur for two reasons:
1. Windows Dynamic Disks is enabled on the VM.
2. There are more then 6 disks attached to the SCSI Controller of the VM.

Application-Consisten Quiescing is not supported for virtual machines with Dynamic Disk.
https://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.vmware.datarecovery.admin.doc_20%2FGUID-6F339449-8A9F-48C0-BE70-91A2654A79D2.html

Each SCSI Controller has 15 disks and the quiesced snapshots in Windows 2008 require one available slot per existing disk.
This issue occurs if the virtual machine has more than seven disks attached to a single controller.



Resolution



  1. Create a new thin virtual disk. This allows you to add a new SCSI Controller.
  2. Ensure the new thin virtual disk is attached to SCSI1:0 node.
  3. Retry creating the quiesced snapshot. You are now able to create the snapshot successfully.

Alternatively, for virtual machines with more than 7 disks on a single SCSI controller, instead of creating a new thin disk and adding this to a new SCSI controller (SCSI1:0):

  1. Shut down the virtual machine.
  2. Spread out the existing disks between multiple SCSI controllers.

    To do this:
    1. Right-click the virtual machine and click Edit Settings.
    2. Change the Virtual Device Node to your new desired SCSI controller.
  3. Power on the virtual machine. 
https://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=2015181&sliceId=1&docTypeID=DT_KB_1_1&dialogID=423198843&stateId=1%200%20423212104
Related Products: ECX