Before I start with the article, I have to point out this is not a VMware bug. Its the VMware admins doing what they are not suppose to do. VMware ESX 3 & VMware ESX 4 Administration Guides mention clearly that you should not VMotion or Storage vMotion a Virtual machine before disconnecting it from CD Media & ISO images that is only available to the first host or Datastore. Actually it will even warn you when you trying to do that.
That has been said, I still have a good number of customers who call me about their Virtual Machine summary still showing that it has a disk on the old datastore after Storage VMotion it to a new datastore. In most cases, it end up that the customer has carried out a Storage VMotion on a virtual machine that is connected to an ISO Image on the old datastore (probably where they have installed the VM from) see the image below.
Luckily the solution is quite easy, all you have to do is just change the Virtual Machine CDRom setting to Client Device & Hit OK as per the image below:
Now you should only see the new Datastore in your Virtual Machine. Although this is an easy solution, many people will miss it. I mean specially when you you are under pressure or have not faced it before.
I hope this tip help someone, & sorry if this tip is too easy for you :). Please leave a comment if it helped.
21 responses to “VMware vSphere Virtual Machine still show old datastore after storage vMotion”
Thanks. You saved my life 🙂
Hi Ismail,
I might be too late with the reply, but I am glad that I have saved your life.
Sorry for the late reply, but I am kinda over loaded these days.
Enjoy,
Eiad
Heck, it doesn’t have to be a VMotion of any sort — this can mess you up even with a simple storage migration! Same thing can happen with floppy images as well.
Hi Matt,
Glad you have found out how to resolve it :). As simple things can be pain some time.
Regards,
Eiad
Uhm, I’ve the same problem but my VMs aren’t connetcted to any ISO image on old datastore, and in the settings tab the Vms are all on ‘client device’ selection… any suggestion?
Hi Max,
Check if your VMs has any USB settings attached to them or any particular hardware device with affinity to a certain host.
Regards,
Eiad
Thanks, this worked, resolved my issue.
Hi Peter,
That is a great news.
Enjoy,
Eiad
Great !
Thank for this tips.
Damien
Glad you like it Damien
It s nice one
Thankyou verymuch Eiad. It left me puzzled for so many days.
Thanks for sharing this information!
Glad that info was able to help Arun.
This is still relevant. THANKS. It was driving me crazy.
Still relevant. Thanks!
Google-fu FTW! This helped me out today.
Thank you so much, this is a very good and quick solution.
Super!! I was looking for a solution for ages! Now i feel silly
Thank you it worked for me as well. Quick solution.
thank you , your post help me.
Glad you found it helpful Toxic :).