However, errors may arise during the attempt to merge the virtual machine disk files. These errors can often be resolved straightforwardly.
Consolidation of Virtual Machine Disks in VMware
To clear the “Virtual machine disks consolidation is needed” status, you must consolidate the virtual machine disks.
Errors You Might Encounter During Consolidation
During disk consolidation, you might encounter an error stating, “The content ID of the parent virtual disk does not match the corresponding parent content ID in the child”. This error occurs when the chain of virtual disks to be consolidated has differing Content-IDs and cannot be merged. Another possible error is “Unable to access the file since it is locked”, which happens when the virtual machine is running, snapshot operations are being performed, or third-party services used by the virtual machine lock the file.
FIX: The Content ID of the Parent Virtual Disk Does Not Match the Corresponding Parent Content
Firstly, copy the hostname of the affected virtual machine and input it into the PuTTY configuration window, a free SSH client available for download. This will open a terminal. NOTE: Be aware that the procedure described below carries the risk of corrupting the virtual drive and should only be attempted if you understand partitioning schemes.
FIX: Unable to Access File Since It Is Locked
To remedy the “Unable to access file since it is locked” error, restart the services.sh script. This will refresh all services using the virtual machine’s disks, eliminating obstacles and allowing the consolidation process to complete.
Restarting the services will temporarily idle the virtual machines, permitting the consolidation to occur without interference. Upon completing these steps, you should be able to successfully consolidate your virtual machine snapshots.
