Hot Add not supported on some vm

[agrob]

good day

have an esx cluster with a vm which acts as proxy vm (server 2012 R2). proxy vm is configured to use hot add mode (failback to nbd if hot add is not possible).

set up two separate jobs for each of our 2012 r2 fileserver. both jobs do failover to nbd (for all disks, system and data) with the message:

Code: Select all

11.04.2014 13:15:31 :: Hot add is not supported for this disk, failing over to network mode (Festplatte 1)

esxi version 5.1 u2
vm version vmx-09

created a test vm (2012 r2) and if i backup this vm, it does use hot add mode and does not switch to nbd.

so it seems not to be a general problem. any idea why this happens?

thanks

[foggy]

Andre, have you already reviewed this KB article for possible reasons of failover? There are several limitations of using hotadd mode, probably some of them apply to your case.

[veremin]

Also, you might want to Hot Add the disks manually, using vSphere Client, and see whether this works or not. Thanks.

[agrob]

hi foggy, thanks have seen this article before but i would say that nothing applies for me. can i do any futher debuging to see why hot add is not possible with those vms?

both vms were created with hw version vmx-08 but i did update them to vmx-09 several weeks ago

[foggy]

Yes, you can provide debug log files for investigation to our technical support.

[agrob]

Also, you might want to Hot Add the disks manually, using vSphere Client, and see whether this works or not. Thanks.

how exactely can i manully hot add a disk from another vm?
i tried to snapshot the vm manually i want to backup and then attach the original vmdk to the proxy vm over vcenter, i get this error:

Failed to add disk scsi0:1.
Failed to power on scsi0:1.
Cannot open the disk '/vmfs/volumes/489a508b-13bcd881-95c8-0022642aab9c/SERVER/SERVER.vmdk' or one of the snapshot disks it depends on.
Failed to lock the file

this happens on the vm which i can backup in hot add mode with veeam...

[agrob]

Yes, you can provide debug log files for investigation to our technical support.

thanks foggy, i'll collect the debugs and open a technical support case

[veremin]

how exactely can i manully hot add a disk from another vm?

The way how SCSI Hot Add functionality can be tested manually is described here.

Thanks.

[agrob]

The way how SCSI Hot Add functionality can be tested manually is described here.

Thanks.

Thanks v.Eremin for the link. i tried that and manually it does work... i have opened a case, i'll update here if i know something new...

[veremin]

Then, the support team seems like the way to go. Once opened, kindly, you provide your ticket number here, so that, we can follow the case and update the topic with the found resolution. Thanks.

[agrob]

Ticket Nr 00549020

[agrob]

Problem solved. I made the mistake to check the blocksize of the wrong datastore first time.

Accidentaly checked the DS on which the veeam backup server is running instead where the veeam proxy vm is running. backup server vm is running on a newly created DS which supports 2TB files. proxy vm was running on an older DS with max 256MB support. Moved it now to another DS and it works....
Anyway, thanks all for your help

[veremin]

Hi, Andre, sometimes it happens that even the simplest thing slips out of our attention. Anyway, thank you for coming backup and providing the found resolution; highly appreciated.

[homermg]

Hi all,

we have implement a new storage with new vm's and now i have installed a new veeam server with veeam 5.0.2.230 64bit.
Hardware: P2000 with FC connections to 2 Vsphere 5.5 servers.
Veeam is a guest on one of the boths VMware 5.5 hosts.
The first job (20 GB) setuped to backup method "Virtual Appliance" is running with 33 MB/s rate and at the end i see the message that hot add is not supported for the disk, failing to network mode.
Any idea why?
Thanks!

[foggy]

Please start from reviewing the KB article mentioned above, probably one of the listed limitations applies to your case.

Btw, is there any reason to run such an old (and hence, not supported) version of Veeam B&R?

[veremin]

we have implement a new storage with new vm's and now i have installed a new veeam server with veeam 5.0.2.230 64bit.Veeam is a guest on one of the boths VMware 5.5 hosts.

Also, be aware that your current version doesn't support vSphere 5.5. In order to backup/replicate VMs residing on such host, you should update to v7 R2, at least. Thanks.

[homermg]

i was talking to a veeam hotline yestrday and the guys told me that my vmware 5.5 is supported by veeam 5.
anyway i have to use it for now.
I have allready check the http://www.veeam.com/kb1054
it seems that everything is ok.
Maybe i was doing something wrong on installation? I mean it was preaty simple just run the setup, go trough the steps.
That it. or are there any additional steps i have to do?
• LUN where Veeam Backup server resides on should be formatted with proper block size to be able to mount the largest virtual disk of the hot added VMs.
1MB block size – 256GB maximum file size
My files are not so big
not independent disks
connected with vCenter
vm is not restored
Are they any logs where I can find the cause for the issue?
Thanks guys

[veremin]

Not until version 7 R2 has the vSphere 5.5 been supported. Kindly, update to the latest product version, using procedure described in the Release Notes, and see whether the issue goes away or not. Thanks.

[homermg]

if i take a look here: http://www.veeam.com/de/vmware-esx-backup/download.html
i see only the version 7 not R2
where i can download it?

[foggy]

Please refer to this KB article: KB1854.

[homermg]

cool thanks,
now i need the veeam 6 version because i can't upgrade to 7. Is their a way to get the veeam 6?
thanks

[veremin]

Please, contact support team directly; they should have previous product versions. Thanks.

[Bauer]

OK I know this has been done to death.

I can't hot add disks. I tried the test that's provided where you add them through vsphere and it will not work if the source VM is powered on but it will work if it is powered off. Veeam will not hot add the disks when it does a backup regardless of whether the VM is powered on or not.

So I guess my question is. Do I have a Veeam problem or vSphere problem? Should I be able to hot add a disk to a running VM from a running VM on the same vsphere? Even if I can't then why won't Veeam use hot add mode if the source VM is powered off?

[Vitaliy S.]

Hi Ben,

In order to hotadd a virtual disk of a running VM, you should take a snapshot of it first (this will remove a lock on a virtual disk). If you're successful with this task, then please open a support ticket with our team to review your proxy and backed up VM configuration.

Thanks!

[Bauer]

ok adding the disk after a snapshot worked flawlessly. I will get a support case open tomorrow. Thanks for the prompt reply.