Determining which replica disk is used for a linked clone virtual machine (1031842)

Purpose

This article provides information to determine which linked clones are associated to a replica virtual machine.

Resolution

To determine which linked clones are associated to a replica virtual machine:

 

From the ESX console:

 

Note: To use this method, you require access to the console of one ESX server hosting the View desktop. For ESXi, use Technical Support mode. For more information, see Tech Support Mode for Emergency Support (1003677) or Using Tech Support Mode in ESXi 4.1 and ESXi 5.x (1017910).

1. Log in to the ESX host and su to root (if required). In ESXi connect to the console, press Alt + F1 and type unsupported.
   
2. Run the command:
   
   find /vmfs/volumes/ \( -size -1500c \) -name *.vmdk -exec grep replica {} -H \; | grep 'parentFileNameHint=' > replicalist.txt
   
3. Run the command:
   
   sed s/:/'-->>'/ < replicalist.txt >replicalist2.txt
   
4. Run the command:
   
   less replicalist2.txt
   The output is similar to:
   
   /vmfs/volumes/4cceb02c-6fba721c-a0ff-001e0b1f4ca2/test-2/test-2.vmdk-->>parentFileNameHint="/vmfs/volumes/4cceb02c-6
   fba721c-a0ff-001e0b1f4ca2/replica-8581f32c-a851-448e-8ea8-/replica-8581f32c-a851-448e-8ea8-.vmdk"
   /vmfs/volumes/4cceb02c-6fba721c-a0ff-001e0b1f4ca2/test-1/test-1.vmdk-->>parentFileNameHint="/vmfs/volumes/4cceb02c-6
   fba721c-a0ff-001e0b1f4ca2/replica-8581f32c-a851-448e-8ea8-/replica-8581f32c-a851-448e-8ea8-.vmdk"
   
   The Linked Clone virtual machines and the replicas are separated by -->>. The Linked Clone desktops are to the left and the replica is to the right. In addition to Pool Desktops, other virtual machines are also listed.
   
   The replica name shown in vCenter Server is longer than the folder name and .vmdk name in the datastore.
   
   For example:
5. • vCenter Server name – replica-ae5923a9-4991-41e7-ba03-07c61429d839
   • vmdk name – replica-ae5923a9-4991-41e7-ba03-.vmdk
     Source KB