IT35931: BACKUPS OF VIRTUAL MACHINES CAN FAIL WITH ANS4174E AND RC=109 AFTER UPGRADING TO 8.1.11.

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• IBM Spectrum Protect for Virtual Environments - Data Protection
  for VMware version 8.1.11 uses new functions of the VMware
  Virtual Disk Development Kit (VDDK) to process only the changed
  data blocks for a guest VM.
  As a requirement for above process
  to work correctly, the disk size must be a multiple of 2048
  sectors (1 MB).
  If that condition is not fulfilled, the
  following error will be seen :
  ANS0361I DIAG:
  ..\..\common\vm\vmbackcommon.cpp(7946):
  vmOpenVirtualDiskForBackup(): error opening vmware VMDK: disk
  id=0, rc=109.
  ANS4174E Full VM backup of VMware Virtual Machine
  'VM_name' failed with RC=109 mode=Incremental Forever - Full,
  target node name='VM_DC', data mover node name='VM_DM'
  ANS1228E
  Sending of object 'VM_name' failed.
  ANS1062E Only a single
  image may be selected when a destination is entered.
  
  IBM
  Spectrum Protect Versions Affected:
  IBM Spectrum Protect for
  Virtual Environments - Data Protection for VMware version
  8.1.11.0 on Windows and Linux
  
  Initial Impact:
  Medium
  
  Additional Keywords: TSM, Tivoli, Storage, Manager,
  TS004744112
  

Local fix

• Change the size of the affected guest disk to a multiple of
  2048 sectors (1 MB).
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:                                              *
  * Data Protection for VMware version 8.1.11 running on all     *
  * Microsoft Windows x64 and Linux x86 platforms.               *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:                                         *
  * See ERROR DESCRIPTION                                        *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  * This issue is projected to be fixed in the Data Protection   *
  * for VMware Data Mover version 8.1.12 on Windows x64 and      *
  * Linux x86 platforms.                                         *
  * Note 1: This is subject to change at the discretion of IBM.  *
  ****************************************************************
  

Problem conclusion

• Disk size alignment requirement was relaxed to 64KB, which is
  the minimum allowed by vmware.
  However the best practice is still to use disk size that is
  multiple of 1MB (https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/66936).
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Modules/Macros

• dsmagent
  

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  TSM FOR VE DP V

• Fixed component ID

  5725TVEVM

Applicable component levels