This article provides information on recovering the parent virtual machine (and snapshot), when linked clone virtual machine is working and still exists in the pool.
This can happen when the parent (golden/master, whatever you call it!!) virtual machine and snapshot of the pool is corrupted, deleted or is inaccessible.
Resolution
1. Determining the MOID of replica. Run the below query on the database server.
To determine the MOID of the replica, run this query:
<Query>
DECLARE @VM_NAME VARCHAR(255) = ‘VM_NAME’
use VIEW_COMPOSER_DB_NAME
SELECT REPLICA_MOID
FROM [dbo].SVI_REPLICA r
JOIN [dbo].SVI_SIM_CLONE c on c.REPLICA_ID = r.ID
WHERE c.GUEST_COMPUTER_NAME = @VM_NAME
</Query>
You will find the MOID as – VM-XXX.
2. Finding the name of the replica (as displayed in vCenter Server) by the replica MOID
Browse to the https://VC_SERVER/mob/?moid=MOID
Search for the “Name” attribute in the vCenter MOB page. CTRL+F should help!!
3. Recover the parent virtual machine (and snapshot) used to create the linked clone
- Use vCenter Server to clone the replica into the new parent virtual machine.
- Take a new snapshot of the new parent virtual machine.
- Update the pool to use the new parent virtual machine and new snapshot.
4. Cloning the new parent virtual machine after you have the name of the replica
Using vSphere, find the replica-xxxx virtual machine that was identified in the above steps, and issue a Clone Command (do not customize).
Now you have a new virtual machine which can be used as a parent virtual machine replacement for the linked clone Pool. Its configuration is identical to that of the parent virtual machine (and snapshot) used to create the linked clone virtual machine used above.
You need to take a new snapshot for the virtual machine to be used as a linked clone parent. Replace the original parent virtual machine with this new one, or simply create a new pool using this new virtual machine as its parent.
I hope this was helpful.
KnowareTech 