Backup failes with "Invalid virtual machine configuration" (4045179)

When attempting a backup using vRanger you are seeing an issue on the snapshot creation step of the backup job. The backup fails with the error message " Invalid virtual machine configuration". This issue can be seen with the vRanger backup failing with the error pointing to the vAPI call to the host for the snapshot creation. The virtual machine also shows as invalid in the vSphere client, and the virtual machine is not accessible.

This issue can occur when the .vmsd file for the virtual machine becomes corrupted. There are various reasons to cause the .vmsd file to become corrupt in a configuration. Virtual machines can show up as invalid if the datastore UUID has changed due to resignaturing. You will need to force the .vmsd file to be recreated to correct the problem.

Reregistering the virtual machine on your ESX / ESXi host may be one solution to your issue. This can be performed by following these steps:

1. Right-click the virtual machine and choose Remove from Inventory.( Before removing the VM not the datastore the VM resides in)
   Caution: Do not choose Delete from Disk.
2. Click on the ESX/ESXi host and, using the Summary tab, locate the datastore from step 1. in which the virtual machine exists.
3. Right-click the datastore and click Browse Datastore.
4. Browse to the directory of the virtual machine.
   Right-click the .vmx file of the virtual machine and choose Add to Inventory.
5. Power on the virtual machine.

reference VMWare KB #1002367 | Updated Jan 27, 2012

VMWare ESX & ESXi versions:

• VMware ESX 3.0.x
  VMware ESX 3.5.x
  VMware ESX 4.0.x
  VMware ESX 4.1.x