VMDK config cannot be changed due to orphaned vSphere replication settings

I recently needed to change a *.vmdk size of an VM which had created an error saying:

 

Actually, this VM was replicated using vSphere Replication in the past but it has been replaced with another technologie recently. So it seems to have some kind of leftover configuration present which are preventing the resize of the *.vmdk.

So let’s check it through CLI on the host running this VM.

Review these vim-cmd commands

vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms

Get a list of all VMs running and remember the Vmid of the needed VM
(For example 1121) The vmsvc commands are part of the virtual machine management and can be listed under vmsvc/.

 

vim-cmd hbrsvc/vmreplica.getConfig 1121

This will retrieve the replication configuration of the VM. hbrsvc/ commands are part of the host based replication command set.

 

vim-cmd hbrsvc/vmreplica.getState 1121

 

vim-cmd hbrsvc/vmreplica.stopOfflineInstance 1121

This will show an operational error as the virtual machine is powered on.

 

vim-cmd hbrsvc/vmreplica.disable 1121

This will disable the replication at the config.  The status can be queried once again to make sure using vim-cmd hbrsvc/vmreplica.getState 1121

 

After that the hostd and vpxa services on the host have to be restarted and the config of the VM is ready to be changed.