Intermittent VMware backups failure due to VMware License Error "Failed to load license manager"

Problem

Starting with VDDK 5.5 and prior to VDDK 5.5.3, VMware backups may intermittently fail with "Error opening the snapshot disks using given transport mode: Status 23" due to a VDDK error loading license manager.

Error Message

VxMS log:

12/08/2014 18:05:56 : g_vixInterfaceLogger:libvix.cpp:1825 <DEBUG> : [VFM_ESINFO] VixDiskLibVim: Callback for login. 
12/08/2014 18:05:56 : g_vixInterfaceLogger:libvix.cpp:1825 <DEBUG> : [VFM_ESINFO] VixDiskLibVim: Get error from listener. 
12/08/2014 18:05:56 : g_vixInterfaceLogger:libvix.cpp:1825 <DEBUG> : [VFM_ESINFO] VixDiskLibVim: Error 3014 (listener error VmodlVimFaultInvalidLogin). 
12/08/2014 18:05:56 : g_vixInterfaceLogger:libvix.cpp:1829 <DEBUG> : [VFM_ESWARN] VixDiskLibVim: Login failure. Callback error 3014 at 2482. 
12/08/2014 18:05:56 : g_vixInterfaceLogger:libvix.cpp:1825 <DEBUG> : [VFM_ESINFO] VixDiskLibVim: Failed to load license manager. 

12/08/2014 18:05:56 : g_vixInterfaceLogger:libvix.cpp:1825 <DEBUG> : [VFM_ESINFO] VixDiskLib: Error occurred when obtaining NFC ticket for: [DATASTORE1] TESTVM1/TESTVM1-000002.vmdk. Error 3014 at 3707. 

12/08/2014 18:05:56 : vdOpen:VixInterface.cpp:419 <ERROR> : VixDiskLib_Open() error: 3014 
12/08/2014 18:05:56 : openLeafSnapshotDisks:VixGuest.cpp:493 <DEBUG> : vdOpen() error = 3014. Calling closeLeafSnapshotDisks() 
12/08/2014 18:05:56 : log:Error.cpp:265 <WARN> : Error: 0x00000017 occured in file VixGuest.cpp, at line 639 
12/08/2014 18:05:56 : log:Error.cpp:265 <WARN> : Error: 0x00000017 occured in file VixGuest.cpp, at line 639 
12/08/2014 18:05:56 : vixMapObjCtl:VixCoordinator.cpp:972 <ERROR> : Returning: 23 
12/08/2014 18:05:56 : vix_map_objctl:libvix.cpp:1258 <ERROR> : Returning: 23 

Cause

This is a known VMware issue that can be seen in:

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2098050

https://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vddk/vddk-553-releasenotes.html 

Open call could fail with no-license error. Due to a flaw in license checking logic, if the first host in the list had “esxBasic” edition key, the VixDiskLib_Open call returned a VIX_E_DISK_NOLICENSE error, even if hosts later in the list had an appropriate license edition key.

Solution

Fixed in NetBackup 7.6.1.1 and higher.

Applies To