VStorage (VMware) backup failing with status 156 "VIXAPI freeze failed with 6"

Problem

All VMware backups failing with status code: 156 and error: "VIXAPI freeze failed with 6"

Error Message

BPFIS logs with vmcloglevel set to 3:

03:42:57.699 [8952.8624] <2> onlfi_vfms_logf: INF - vmwareLogger: CreateSnapshot(1): SYM_VMC_ERROR:  SOAP_ERROR

03:42:57.699 [8952.8624] <2> onlfi_vfms_logf: INF - vmwareLogger: SOAP 1.1 fault: "":ServerFaultCode [no subcode]
"Permission to perform this operation was denied."
.

.

03:42:57.699 [8952.8624] <2> onlfi_vfms_logf: INF - vSphere_freeze: vmcCreateSnapshot failed with 6, retry = 1

.

.
03:42:59.711 [8952.8624] <4> delete_mount_point: INF - Deleted mount point C:\Program Files\Veritas\NetBackup\temp\_vrts_frzn_img_ALL_LOCAL_DRIVES_8952
03:42:59.711 [8952.8624] <32> onlfi_freeze_fim_fs: FTL - VfMS error 11; see following messages:
03:42:59.711 [8952.8624] <32> onlfi_freeze_fim_fs: FTL - Fatal method error was reported
03:42:59.711 [8952.8624] <32> onlfi_freeze_fim_fs: FTL - vfm_freeze: method: VMware, type: FIM, function: VMware_freeze
03:42:59.711 [8952.8624] <32> onlfi_freeze_fim_fs: FTL - VfMS method error 7; see following message:
03:42:59.711 [8952.8624] <32> onlfi_freeze_fim_fs: FTL - VMware_freeze: VIXAPI freeze failed with 6

Cause

The VMware account being used by Netbackup is not set with the correct permissions for the backup to function.

Solution

Identify the account used by NetBackup to access the vCenter Server under NetBackup Administration Concsole > Media Management > Credentials > Virtual Machine Servers > <vCenter Server Name>

Ensure this account has sufficient permissions in vCenter as described in the article "What are the minimum permissions needed to properly backup and restore using vStorage api?" (see link below).

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