Error: "unable to cast object type during restore" (4045903)

This may be seen during restore if you need to restore a VM as a new display name, and the vSphere environment has vDistributed Swtiching implemented.

This issue seems tied to vm's backed up in vSphere with distributed NIC assigned and restored to a vSphere host using restore as.

1. Upon receiving error during restore wizard, Click “Continue” and proceed with creating the VM restore task without selecting a Network. Make sure to deselect the options “Force Overwrite” and “Force Power-On” when presented. The restore task should save correctly.
2. Execute restore task and wait for completion.
3. Upon completion of restore task, Open the vShpere Client and connect to the Virtual Center environment the Virtual Machine was restored to.
4. Locate restored VM, select VM in inventory View, and click “Edit Settings”
5. Now in “Edit Settings” we need to add a Virtual Nic to the Virtual Machine. Click on “Add” and select “Ethernet Adapter” and click “Next”
6. The “Adapter Type” should be “Flexible” or “E1000” (if you were using a different adapter type, please select that type here).
7. Select the appropriate “Network Label” (vSwitch) to connect the VM to a VM Network and click “Next”.
8. Click “Finish” to save your changes.
9. You may need to re-add IP information back in as this may show up as a new NIC.

You should now be able to successfully power on the VM and access the correct VM Network.