[Import-vApp] OVF vmdk not imported

[wesley_yalipu]

Hi,

I'm importing an OVF using import-vapp cmdlet and it finishes without errors. The task lasts 4-5 seconds for a 1.5 GB disk)

The issue is that the vmdk content is not imported. If I try to start the VM, it will boot on the network because it can't find any disk.
The disk is present in the VM' settings and I can see the vmdk file on the datastore provisioned to 50 GB as expected.

I used this cmdlet successfully many times before but since the latest vCenter upgrade, it seems to be broken as far as I see.

Info :
vCenter Server with External PSC 6.5.0.33100
PowerCLI v12.1.0.17009493
PowerShell v5.1.19041.610

[wesley_yalipu]

The logs don't show much.

host vpxa.log :

[root@esx11:/var/log] grep -i httpnfc vpxa.log
2021-01-20T21:43:28.812Z info vpxa[9E98B70] [Originator@6876 sub=vpxLro opID=1059ba41-01-ce] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN lro-1746351 -- vpxa -- vpxapi.VpxaService.addHttpNfcTicket -- 529c6606-51a6-1570-e1f1-bdde51cd67ef
2021-01-20T21:43:28.812Z info vpxa[9E98B70] [Originator@6876 sub=HttpNfcTicket opID=1059ba41-01-ce] [HTTP-NFC-TICKET 528ead15-984d-6640-2cf3-9d504f8ab585] Renewed
2021-01-20T21:43:28.812Z info vpxa[9E98B70] [Originator@6876 sub=HttpNfcTicket opID=1059ba41-01-ce] [HTTP-NFC-TICKET] Created ticket 528ead15-984d-6640-2cf3-9d504f8ab585
2021-01-20T21:43:28.812Z info vpxa[9E98B70] [Originator@6876 sub=HttpNfcTicket opID=1059ba41-01-ce] [HTTP-NFC-TICKET 528ead15-984d-6640-2cf3-9d504f8ab585] Adding file </vmfs/volumes/5bec7b30-7d2e8a18-f634-48df3708d354/vmname-TPL-test/vmname-TPL-test.vmdk>
2021-01-20T21:43:28.812Z info vpxa[9E98B70] [Originator@6876 sub=HttpNfcTicket opID=1059ba41-01-ce] [HTTP-NFC-TICKET] URL /vm-291097/ParaVirtualSCSIController0:0 -> disk-0.vmdk
2021-01-20T21:43:28.865Z info vpxa[9798B70] [Originator@6876 sub=HttpNfcTicket opID=3406d869-b4] [HTTP-NFC-TICKET 528ead15-984d-6640-2cf3-9d504f8ab585] Revoked
2021-01-20T21:46:12.490Z info vpxa[9867B70] [Originator@6876 sub=HttpNfcTicket opID=34ca8b6-01-d9] [HTTP-NFC-TICKET] Expiring tickets...
2021-01-20T21:46:12.490Z info vpxa[9867B70] [Originator@6876 sub=HttpNfcTicket opID=34ca8b6-01-d9] [HTTP-NFC-TICKET] Expiry done

vCenter vpxd.log :

root@vcsa01 [ /var/log/vmware/vpxd ]# grep -i httpnfc vpxd.log
2021-01-20T21:40:00.932Z info vpxd[7FC757267700] [Originator@6876 sub=vpxLro opID=fcafebf] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN lro-685985645 -- session[5216ec66-b896-d593-a061-ecd7c70b36b4]52bf3944-3dc2-5878-2d8b-920001547040 -- vim.HttpNfcLease.progress -- 5216ec66-b896-d593-a061-ecd7c70b36b4(524abe40-d0ec-dfa0-7eb8-8bf2adeaab5e)
2021-01-20T21:43:25.710Z info vpxd[7FC757267700] [Originator@6876 sub=MoHttpNfcLease opID=1059ba41] [HttpNfcLeaseMo] Created lease with ticket 528ead15-984d-6640-2cf3-9d504f8ab585 (id session[52db1a8a-df92-677d-b3c8-9334a4c397a3]521a1ee1-4269-4c45-6ee5-cddf7a199bee)
2021-01-20T21:43:28.817Z info vpxd[7FC757267700] [Originator@6876 sub=MoHttpNfcLease opID=1059ba41-01] [HttpNfcLease] Host URL: https://esx11/nfc/528ead15-984d-6640-2cf3-9d504f8ab585/, target ID: disk-0.vmdk
2021-01-20T21:43:28.862Z info vpxd[7FC865FED700] [Originator@6876 sub=vpxLro opID=1fa945cb] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN lro-686011291 -- session[52db1a8a-df92-677d-b3c8-9334a4c397a3]521a1ee1-4269-4c45-6ee5-cddf7a199bee -- vim.HttpNfcLease.progress -- 52db1a8a-df92-677d-b3c8-9334a4c397a3(52530ca8-bf2a-8fc1-ae39-9e4067d307d4)
2021-01-20T21:43:28.865Z info vpxd[7FC865CE7700] [Originator@6876 sub=vpxLro opID=3406d869] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN lro-686011292 -- session[52db1a8a-df92-677d-b3c8-9334a4c397a3]521a1ee1-4269-4c45-6ee5-cddf7a199bee -- vim.HttpNfcLease.complete -- 52db1a8a-df92-677d-b3c8-9334a4c397a3(52530ca8-bf2a-8fc1-ae39-9e4067d307d4)
2021-01-20T21:43:28.865Z info vpxd[7FC865CE7700] [Originator@6876 sub=MoHttpNfcLease opID=3406d869] [HttpNfcLeaseMo] Releasing HTTP-NFC ticket
2021-01-20T21:43:28.869Z info vpxd[7FC865CE7700] [Originator@6876 sub=MoHttpNfcLease opID=3406d869] Waiting for task to complete
2021-01-20T21:43:29.046Z info vpxd[7FC865CE7700] [Originator@6876 sub=MoHttpNfcLease opID=3406d869] Task completed, scheduling lease unregister
2021-01-20T21:43:51.101Z info vpxd[7FC75A2C7700] [Originator@6876 sub=vpxLro opID=58577a8f] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN lro-686012369 -- session[5216ec66-b896-d593-a061-ecd7c70b36b4]52bf3944-3dc2-5878-2d8b-920001547040 -- vim.HttpNfcLease.getManifest -- 5216ec66-b896-d593-a061-ecd7c70b36b4(524abe40-d0ec-dfa0-7eb8-8bf2adeaab5e)
2021-01-20T21:43:51.473Z info vpxd[7FC7615AB700] [Originator@6876 sub=vpxLro opID=7e7d1d41] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN lro-686012384 -- session[5216ec66-b896-d593-a061-ecd7c70b36b4]52bf3944-3dc2-5878-2d8b-920001547040 -- vim.HttpNfcLease.complete -- 5216ec66-b896-d593-a061-ecd7c70b36b4(524abe40-d0ec-dfa0-7eb8-8bf2adeaab5e)
2021-01-20T21:43:51.473Z info vpxd[7FC7615AB700] [Originator@6876 sub=MoHttpNfcLease opID=7e7d1d41] [HttpNfcLeaseMo] Releasing HTTP-NFC ticket
2021-01-20T21:43:51.478Z info vpxd[7FC7615AB700] [Originator@6876 sub=MoHttpNfcLease opID=7e7d1d41] Task completed, scheduling lease unregister

Everything seems to go well but the ova vmdk data is never streamed to the ESXi.

[LucD]

Did you already try adding the Verbose switch?
Did you check the vpxd log for additional info?

[wesley_yalipu]

What the ???? I posted a reply yesterday with the logs ... Gotta redo the operation I guess.

Yes, I tried the Verbose switch but it doesn't give more info unfortunately.

Importing 'vm-TPL-test' ...
VERBOSE: Performing the operation "Importing '\\10.128.x.x\Share\OVFs\vm-TPL-test\vm-TPL-test.ovf'" on target "Host 'esx11'".
VERBOSE: 2021-01-20 16:43:25 Import-VApp Finished execution

Here's the log ( for the second time ) :

Host vpxa.log :

[root@esx11:/var/log] grep -i httpnfc vpxa.log
2021-01-20T21:43:28.812Z info vpxa[9E98B70] [Originator@6876 sub=vpxLro opID=1059ba41-01-ce] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN lro-1746351 -- vpxa -- vpxapi.VpxaService.addHttpNfcTicket -- 529c6606-51a6-1570-e1f1-bdde51cd67ef
2021-01-20T21:43:28.812Z info vpxa[9E98B70] [Originator@6876 sub=HttpNfcTicket opID=1059ba41-01-ce] [HTTP-NFC-TICKET 528ead15-984d-6640-2cf3-9d504f8ab585] Renewed
2021-01-20T21:43:28.812Z info vpxa[9E98B70] [Originator@6876 sub=HttpNfcTicket opID=1059ba41-01-ce] [HTTP-NFC-TICKET] Created ticket 528ead15-984d-6640-2cf3-9d504f8ab585
2021-01-20T21:43:28.812Z info vpxa[9E98B70] [Originator@6876 sub=HttpNfcTicket opID=1059ba41-01-ce] [HTTP-NFC-TICKET 528ead15-984d-6640-2cf3-9d504f8ab585] Adding file </vmfs/volumes/5bec7b30-7d2e8a18-f634-48df3708d354/vm-TPL-test/vm-TPL-test.vmdk>
2021-01-20T21:43:28.812Z info vpxa[9E98B70] [Originator@6876 sub=HttpNfcTicket opID=1059ba41-01-ce] [HTTP-NFC-TICKET] URL /vm-291097/ParaVirtualSCSIController0:0 -> disk-0.vmdk
2021-01-20T21:43:28.865Z info vpxa[9798B70] [Originator@6876 sub=HttpNfcTicket opID=3406d869-b4] [HTTP-NFC-TICKET 528ead15-984d-6640-2cf3-9d504f8ab585] Revoked
2021-01-20T21:46:12.490Z info vpxa[9867B70] [Originator@6876 sub=HttpNfcTicket opID=34ca8b6-01-d9] [HTTP-NFC-TICKET] Expiring tickets...
2021-01-20T21:46:12.490Z info vpxa[9867B70] [Originator@6876 sub=HttpNfcTicket opID=34ca8b6-01-d9] [HTTP-NFC-TICKET] Expiry done

And the vCSA vpxd.log :

root@vCSA01 [ /var/log/vmware/vpxd ]# grep -i httpnfc vpxd.log
2021-01-20T21:40:00.932Z info vpxd[7FC757267700] [Originator@6876 sub=vpxLro opID=fcafebf] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN lro-685985645 -- session[5216ec66-b896-d593-a061-ecd7c70b36b4]52bf3944-3dc2-5878-2d8b-920001547040 -- vim.HttpNfcLease.progress -- 5216ec66-b896-d593-a061-ecd7c70b36b4(524abe40-d0ec-dfa0-7eb8-8bf2adeaab5e)
2021-01-20T21:43:25.710Z info vpxd[7FC757267700] [Originator@6876 sub=MoHttpNfcLease opID=1059ba41] [HttpNfcLeaseMo] Created lease with ticket 528ead15-984d-6640-2cf3-9d504f8ab585 (id session[52db1a8a-df92-677d-b3c8-9334a4c397a3]521a1ee1-4269-4c45-6ee5-cddf7a199bee)
2021-01-20T21:43:28.817Z info vpxd[7FC757267700] [Originator@6876 sub=MoHttpNfcLease opID=1059ba41-01] [HttpNfcLease] Host URL: https://esx11/nfc/528ead15-984d-6640-2cf3-9d504f8ab585/, target ID: disk-0.vmdk
2021-01-20T21:43:28.862Z info vpxd[7FC865FED700] [Originator@6876 sub=vpxLro opID=1fa945cb] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN lro-686011291 -- session[52db1a8a-df92-677d-b3c8-9334a4c397a3]521a1ee1-4269-4c45-6ee5-cddf7a199bee -- vim.HttpNfcLease.progress -- 52db1a8a-df92-677d-b3c8-9334a4c397a3(52530ca8-bf2a-8fc1-ae39-9e4067d307d4)
2021-01-20T21:43:28.865Z info vpxd[7FC865CE7700] [Originator@6876 sub=vpxLro opID=3406d869] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN lro-686011292 -- session[52db1a8a-df92-677d-b3c8-9334a4c397a3]521a1ee1-4269-4c45-6ee5-cddf7a199bee -- vim.HttpNfcLease.complete -- 52db1a8a-df92-677d-b3c8-9334a4c397a3(52530ca8-bf2a-8fc1-ae39-9e4067d307d4)
2021-01-20T21:43:28.865Z info vpxd[7FC865CE7700] [Originator@6876 sub=MoHttpNfcLease opID=3406d869] [HttpNfcLeaseMo] Releasing HTTP-NFC ticket
2021-01-20T21:43:28.869Z info vpxd[7FC865CE7700] [Originator@6876 sub=MoHttpNfcLease opID=3406d869] Waiting for task to complete
2021-01-20T21:43:29.046Z info vpxd[7FC865CE7700] [Originator@6876 sub=MoHttpNfcLease opID=3406d869] Task completed, scheduling lease unregister
2021-01-20T21:43:51.101Z info vpxd[7FC75A2C7700] [Originator@6876 sub=vpxLro opID=58577a8f] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN lro-686012369 -- session[5216ec66-b896-d593-a061-ecd7c70b36b4]52bf3944-3dc2-5878-2d8b-920001547040 -- vim.HttpNfcLease.getManifest -- 5216ec66-b896-d593-a061-ecd7c70b36b4(524abe40-d0ec-dfa0-7eb8-8bf2adeaab5e)
2021-01-20T21:43:51.473Z info vpxd[7FC7615AB700] [Originator@6876 sub=vpxLro opID=7e7d1d41] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN lro-686012384 -- session[5216ec66-b896-d593-a061-ecd7c70b36b4]52bf3944-3dc2-5878-2d8b-920001547040 -- vim.HttpNfcLease.complete -- 5216ec66-b896-d593-a061-ecd7c70b36b4(524abe40-d0ec-dfa0-7eb8-8bf2adeaab5e)
2021-01-20T21:43:51.473Z info vpxd[7FC7615AB700] [Originator@6876 sub=MoHttpNfcLease opID=7e7d1d41] [HttpNfcLeaseMo] Releasing HTTP-NFC ticket
2021-01-20T21:43:51.478Z info vpxd[7FC7615AB700] [Originator@6876 sub=MoHttpNfcLease opID=7e7d1d41] Task completed, scheduling lease unregister

[LucD]

Those logs look all ok.

So the VMDK is created, but apparently, it is an empty disk.
You did of course check, with an import via the Web Client, that the OVF doesn't have any issues.

You could also check the XML file to see what it actually states about the VMDK.

[wesley_yalipu]

Yes, it is actually the workaround I used to complete my work. Doing the import from the HTML Web client did work without any issues.

Here's an excerpt of the OVF file :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!--Generated by VMware VirtualCenter Server, User: xxxx, UTC time: 2021-01-18T22:22:39.929876Z-->
<Envelope vmw:buildId="build-16764584" xmlns="http://schemas.dmtf.org/ovf/envelope/1" xmlns:cim="http://schemas.dmtf.org/wbem/wscim/1/common" xmlns:ovf="http://schemas.dmtf.org/ovf/envelope/1" xmlns:rasd="http://schemas.dmtf.org/wbem/wscim/1/cim-schema/2/CIM_ResourceAllocationSettingData" xmlns:vmw="http://www.vmware.com/schema/ovf" xmlns:vssd="http://schemas.dmtf.org/wbem/wscim/1/cim-schema/2/CIM_VirtualSystemSettingData" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
  <References>
    <File ovf:href="vm-TPL-test_disk0.vmdk" ovf:id="file1" ovf:size="1578157568"/>
  </References>
  <DiskSection>
    <Info>Virtual disk information</Info>
    <Disk ovf:capacity="50" ovf:capacityAllocationUnits="byte * 2^30" ovf:diskId="vmdisk1" ovf:fileRef="file1" ovf:format="http://www.vmware.com/interfaces/specifications/vmdk.html#streamOptimized"/>
  </DiskSection>

We have some functions using this cmdlet so we can't rely only on the Web UI, it is only a temporary workaround.

[LucD]

That all looks normal.

I would suggest to open an SR

[wesley_yalipu]

Alright, thanks @LucD  🙂