Summary
An instant vmdk restore fails with 'errno=9004'
Symptoms
Instant VMDK restore of one drive from a VM fails with the following error:
ERROR 1.50491E+12 Fri 8 Sep 2017 16:10:15 CDT 2 Query to NetApp ONTAP filer failed. Initiator group already exists (errno=9004)
ERROR 1.50491E+12 Fri 8 Sep 2017 16:10:15 CDT 2 Query failed(<igroup-create><os-type>default</os-type><initiator-group-type>iscsi</initiator-group-type><initiator-group-name>setopesxprd20p.sbl.com</initiator-group-name></igroup-create>)(Exception:netapp.manage.NaAPIFailedException: Initiator group already exists (errno=9004)
ERROR 1.50491E+12 Fri 8 Sep 2017 16:10:15 CDT 2 Load VMware data: Failed to load storage information for source (<server name>). Error = (StorageHostGetException).
ERROR 1.50491E+12 Fri 8 Sep 2017 16:10:15 CDT 2 Load VMware data: Failed to find an initiator group for ESX server (<server name>) from storage server (<server name>). Exception (com.catalogic.ecx.serviceprovider.common.storage.exception.StorageHostGetException) reports: (com.syncsort.dp.xsb.netappprovider.exception.NetappAPIFailedException: Initiator group already exists (errno=9004))
The Virgo log displays the following error:
[2017-09-08 16:10:15.126] ERROR asyncTaskExecutor-2 com.syncsort.dp.xsb.netappprovider.ontap.impl.NetappSessionImpl 1504904921045 Query to NetApp ONTAP filer failed. Initiator group already exists (errno=9004)
[2017-09-08 16:10:15.146] ERROR asyncTaskExecutor-2 c.s.d.x.s.r.vmwarenetapp.messages.RecoveryStepStatusMsgMgr 1504904921045 Load VMware data: Failed to load storage information for source (<server name>). Error = (StorageHostGetException).
[2017-09-08 16:10:15.148] ERROR asyncTaskExecutor-2 c.s.d.x.s.r.vmwarenetapp.messages.RecoveryStepStatusMsgMgr 1504904921045 Load VMware data: Failed to find an initiator group for ESX server (setopesxprd20p.sbl.com) from storage server (<server name>).
Resolution
The above errors are an indication that the iSCSI Initiator has not been set up or enabled on the ESX host. To set up and enable the iSCSI Initiator:
1. Log in to the vSphere Client and select a server from the inventory panel.
2. Click the Configuration tab, then click Storage Adapters in the Hardware panel.
The list of available storage adapters appears.
3. Select the iSCSI Initiator to configure, then click Properties.
4. Click Configure.
The General Properties dialog box displays the Initiator’s status, default name, and alias.
5. To enable the Initiator, select Enabled.
6. To change the default iSCSI name for your Initiator, enter the new name.
Ensure the name you enter is worldwide unique and properly formatted, or some storage devices may not recognize the software iSCSI Initiator.
7. Click OK to save your changes.
Note that actions, names, and tabs can be different for different versions of ESXi, however the procedure remains the same.