[Fixed] vSphere The Operation Is Not Allowed in The Current State

Error message - the operation is not allowed in the current state

vSphere the operation is not allowed in the current state is an error message that you might encounter when attempting to perform certain actions on virtual machines or hosts. The error message indicates that the requested operation cannot be executed due to the VM's or host's current state, which may be inappropriate or incompatible with the desired task. The error can manifest in various situations, such as VMware cannot power off VM, taking snapshots, or performing migrations between hosts.

Common causes of the operation is not allowed in the current state error

Understanding the root causes of the operation is not allowed in the current state error is essential for effective troubleshooting. Some common causes include:

• VM State Inconsistency: The VM might be in a transitional state, such as power on failed the operation is not allowed in the current state, which blocks other actions until the current task completes.
• Host State Issues: If the vSphere host is in maintenance mode or experiencing connectivity problems, certain operations may be restricted.
• Resource Constraints: Insufficient resources like CPU, memory, or storage on the host can lead to errors when attempting resource-intensive operations.
• Network Configurations: Network-related misconfigurations on the VM or host can prevent certain actions from being executed.
• Snapshot Conflicts: VMware snapshot the operation is not allowed in the current state can hinder operations like cloning or deleting the VM.

How to troubleshoot vSphere the operation is not allowed in the current state

To back up VMware virtual machines (VMs) directly to Amazon S3, you can use AWS DataSync, a service that makes it easy to transfer data between your on-premises storage and Amazon S3. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to set up and perform backups using AWS DataSync:

1. Sign Up for AWS: If you don't have an AWS account, sign up for one at https://aws.amazon.com/. Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to create and configure AWS services.

2. Prepare an Amazon S3 Bucket: Create an Amazon S3 bucket to store your VMware VM backups. Make sure you choose an appropriate region for the bucket.

3. Set Up AWS DataSync: In the AWS Management Console, navigate to the AWS DataSync service. Click on "Create agent" to set up a DataSync agent that will facilitate data transfer between your VMware environment and Amazon S3.

4. Deploy DataSync Agent: Download the DataSync agent and deploy it on a machine within your on-premises VMware environment. This agent acts as a bridge between your VMware environment and Amazon S3.

5. Configure DataSync Agent: Follow the provided instructions to configure the DataSync agent. During this process, you'll specify the source directory on your VMware environment that contains the VMs you want to back up and the destination S3 bucket.

6. Create a DataSync Task: After configuring the agent, create a DataSync task. In this task, define the source location (VMware directory), the destination (Amazon S3 bucket), and any additional options like data transfer settings.

7. Run DataSync Task: Start the DataSync task to initiate the data transfer from your VMware environment to Amazon S3. DataSync will efficiently handle the transfer, ensuring that only incremental changes are synchronized for subsequent backups.

8. Set Backup Schedule (Optional): If you want to perform regular backups automatically, you can use a scheduling mechanism like cron jobs or Task Scheduler on the machine hosting the DataSync agent to run the DataSync task at predefined intervals.

9. Monitor and Manage Backups: Monitor the status and progress of your backups through the AWS DataSync console. You can also set up notifications to alert you if any issues occur during the data transfer.

By following these steps, you can back up your VMware VMs directly to Amazon S3 using AWS DataSync. It's important to note that AWS DataSync is designed for efficient and incremental data transfers, making it suitable for backup scenarios with large data volumes and regular backup intervals. It provides a secure and scalable solution for protecting your VMware VMs in the AWS cloud.

Protect your vSphere VMs data against the operation error

While troubleshooting the perplexing "vSphere the operation is not allowed in the current state" error is crucial for maintaining a stable vSphere environment, it is equally important to ensure the protection and security of your VMs. vSphere VM protection encompasses a range of measures aimed at safeguarding your valuable VMs from data loss, downtime, and potential disasters.

AOMEI Cyber Backup – a VMware vSphere backup software provides a comprehensive backup and disaster recovery solution designed to protect your virtualized infrastructure. With features like incremental and differential backups, flexible scheduling, and easy-to-use recovery options, AOMEI Cyber Backup ensures that your VMs' data is safe and readily restorable.

✦ Agentless Backup: Create complete and independent image-level backup for VMware ESXi and Hyper-V VMs.
✦ Flexible vSphere Backup: Batch backup large numbers of VMs managed by vCenter Server, or multiple VMs on a standalone ESXi host.
✦ Multiple Storage Destinations: Backup to local drive, or network destinations like Windows share or NAS.
✦ Automated Execution: Create backup schedules to automate backups daily, weekly, monthly.
✦ Instant Recovery: Restore a VM to its previous state quickly with simple clicks.

AOMEI Cyber Backup supports VMware ESXi 6.0 and later versions. Next, I will show you how to perform vSphere VM backup and restore via AOMEI Cyber Backup. You can click the following button to download the free trial.

*You can choose to install this VM backup software on either Windows or Linux system.

Steps to perform vSphere backup and restore via AOMEI Cyber Backup

1. Bind Devices: Access to AOMEI Cyber Backup web client, navigate to Source Device >> VMware >> + Add VMware Device to Add vCenter or Standalone ESXi host. And then click … >> Bind Device.

2. Create Backup Task: Navigate to Backup Task >> + Create New Task, and select VMware ESXi Backup as the Backup Type. Set the Task Name, Device, Target, Schedule and Cleanup as needed.

• Task Name: Change the task name or use the default name with an ordinal.
• Device: Batch backup multiple VMs on vCenter or standalone host within one backup task.
• Target: Select to back up to a local path, or to a network path like NAS.
• Schedule (optional): Perform full, differential, or incremental backup, and automate execution according to the frequency you specified.

• Cleanup (optional): Automatically delete the old backup copies that exceed the retention period you specified.

3. Run Backup: Now you can click Start Backup and select Add the schedule and start backup now, or Add the schedule only.

4. Start Restore: Choose to Restore to original location or Restore to new location to create a new VM in the same or another datastore/host directly from the backup, saving the trouble of re-configuring the new VM.

Conclusion

Encountering vSphere the operation is not allowed in the current state error can be frustrating, but with a systematic troubleshooting approach, administrators can resolve the issue and maintain a stable virtualized environment.

By understanding the common causes of the error and following the outlined steps for resolution, you can efficiently troubleshoot and overcome this obstacle, ensuring a smooth and efficient virtualization experience. Please remember, proactive monitoring and regular updates are vital to minimizing such errors and keeping your vSphere infrastructure running smoothly.