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I'm getting this error when I tried to increase the memory of a VM in VMware ESXi

Failed to reconfigure virtual machine XXX. Unable to access file [VMS] XXX/boot.vmdk

boot.vmdk is already exist but still I'm getting this error.

  • VMWARE ESXi version is: 6.7.0 Update 2
  • Running DellEMC Customized version of VMware ESXi Image
Gerald Schneider
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Dev
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  • Please check the section 'Corrupt VMDK File' in the KB article [Verifying ESX/ESXi virtual machine files](https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1003743). – Gerald Schneider Nov 18 '22 at 06:51
  • Is the host standalone or managed by vCenter? Are there any related entries in the event log of the host that might contain more information? – Gerald Schneider Nov 18 '22 at 07:04
  • @GeraldSchneider - How can we check the event log of the host? – Dev Nov 18 '22 at 07:06
  • VMDK file is proper and boots up the machine without any issue so I don't think it's corrupted – Dev Nov 18 '22 at 07:07
  • Monitor -> Events; Tasks could also contain related tasks. – Gerald Schneider Nov 18 '22 at 07:07
  • Yes, We checked in Events and Tasks there are no additional message. Only message showing which I posted "Failed to reconfigure virtual machine XXX. Unable to access file [VMS] XXX/boot.vmdk" – Dev Nov 18 '22 at 07:15
  • Well, I'd still check the disk file for corruption (`vmkfstools -x check boot.vmdk`), I've seen some weird behaviour with corrupt VMDK files. If that doesn't show any problems I'd most probably just recreate the VM with the existing disks and the needed amount of memory. – Gerald Schneider Nov 18 '22 at 07:19
  • Okay, I'll try that. Thanks for your help – Dev Nov 18 '22 at 09:11
  • Please check if you can access the file from datastore and see if you are seeing any errors in the datastore. – Rachel Nov 18 '22 at 06:39
  • We already checked it. There are no errors and the guest machine bootup without any issue – Dev Nov 18 '22 at 06:48
  • So, the issue occurs when you edit the VM, not when you try to turn it on? And the only thing you changed is the amount of RAM? – Gerald Schneider Nov 18 '22 at 06:56
  • Correct, the Machine powers up without any issue but when I tried to edit the configuration for RAM I'm getting the error Failed to reconfigure virtual machine XXX. Unable to access file [VMS] XXX/boot.vmdk – Dev Nov 18 '22 at 07:04

1 Answers1

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Check the disk file for corruption (vmkfstools -x check boot.vmdk), I've seen some weird behaviour with corrupt VMDK files.

To that connect via SSH, go to the location of the VM files (/vmfs/volumes/$volumename/$vmname) and run the command there.

If that doesn't show any problems you can either edit the .vmx file manually to increase the memory (deregister the VM before you do that and register it again afterwards) or you can recreate the VM with the existing disks and the needed amount of memory.

Gerald Schneider
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