VM Protection Fails with the Error “InvalidPowerState”

This article applies to all JSDR software versions.

Problem

Applying Protection

When a VM is added for protection, it may fail to complete the task reporting “Failed to apply the Storage Policy change”.

Task details display the following text:

The attempted operation cannot be performed in the current state (Powered on).com.vmware.vim25.InvalidPowerState@481cf866 [existingState=com.vmware.vim25.VirtualMachinePowerState@7eef5694 [val=poweredOn,name=poweredOn,ordinal=1],requestedState=com.vmware.vim25.VirtualMachinePowerState@5a1a508e [val=poweredOff,name=poweredOff,ordinal=0],dynamicProperty=,dynamicType=,faultCause=,faultMessage=,detail=,cause=,detailMessage=,stackTrace={},suppressedExceptions=java.util.Collections$UnmodifiableRandomAccessList@12bad197{}]

Removing Protection

When protection is removed from the VM, it may fail to complete the task reporting: “Failed to detach storage policy from Protected VM”.

Failover of domains containing VMs with this problem may report the error “VM has non Supported Disk controller”.

Cause

The protection error generally occurs for VMs with disks that are configured with their Virtual Device Node set to “IDE.” However, if protection is initiated while the VM is powered off, the task will succeed. The problem can also occur when powered on VMs with IDE configured disks are unprotected.

If a protected VM is powered on and its disk’s Virtual Device Node is changed from SCSI to IDE, it will report a replication error. Likewise, adding a new IDE disk to a powered on, protected VM will fail.

Solution

1. Go to the VM > Edit settings screen.
   
   
2. Select the hard disk and check if any of its Virtual Device Nodes are set to IDE.
   
   
   
3. If any disks are found to be configured with IDE:
   • Power off the VM.
   • Return to the VM > Edit settings screen.
   • Select the hard disk and change its Virtual Device Node to SCSI.
     • Before committing the change, verify SCSI mode is compatible with the VM.
     • Apply this change to all applicable hard disks that are set to IDE.
   • Start Protection.

Important: Be certain of the VM’s compatiblity with SCSI Virtual Device Node. If unsure, thoroughly test it using a cloned VM before applying the change to a production VM.

If you have any questions, contact JetStream support for guidance.