Backup failed because two or more VMs in the source host have the same UUID

Cause:

This error occurs when VMs with duplicate UUIDs are available in the source ESXi host. When an entire host is selected (or) VMs are individually selected for backup, then the backup will be skipped for all the VMs with duplicate UUIDs.

Solution:

First, get the list of VMs with their UUID on the source host and then separate the VMs with the same UUID. After which you can change the duplicate UUIDS to unique.

Steps To Get the List of VMs and their UUID from the Source Host:

Install the PowerCLI Command in Windows PowerShell (Run as Administrator):

Install-Module -Name VMware.PowerCLI
#accept repo warning and install

Run the command to set the ExecutionPolicy:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

Run the command to set the InvalidCertificateAction:

Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -Scope User -InvalidCertificateAction prompt

Connect to ESXi hosts:

Connect-VIServer -Server IP_ADDRESS -Protocol https -User USER -Password PASS

Run the command to get the list of Virtual Machine with its instance UUID:

get-vm | get-view | select name,@{l="uuid";e={$_.config.instanceuuid}} | export-csv ~\desktop\VmInstanceUUID.csv

Open the VmInstanceUUID.csv file and check the VM with the duplicate UUID shown in the remarks.

Step To Change the InstanceUUID of the VM:

Open the following URL: https://< vCenter hostname/ESXi hostname >/mob/

Log in as an administrator.

Search “content” in the NAME column, and click the link in the VALUE column in the same row.

Search “rootFolder” in the NAME column, and click the link in the VALUE column in the same row.

Search “childEntity” in the NAME column. In the VALUE column in the same row, find the Datacenter in which the VM resides and click on its link.

Search “vmFolder” in the NAME column, and click the link in the VALUE column in the same row.

Search “childEntity” in the NAME column. In the VALUE column in the same row, click “more…” to expand the VM list. Search the VM you are looking for and click the link.

Search “config” in the NAME column. In the VALUE column in the same row click the link in the VALUE column in the same row.

Search ReconfigVM_Task in the Methods table, and click the link.

In the new browser opened, remove all contents in the VALUE field, and type the following code:

<spec>
<instanceUuid>2499952a-6c85-480e-b7df-4cbd2137eb69</instanceUuid>
</spec>

Note: The 2499952a-6c85-480e-b7df-4cbd2137eb69 string mentioned above is a sample UUID. You need to replace it with the UUID that you want to apply.

Click on the Invoke Method link to apply the new UUID.

To verify that a new UUID is applied, close the newly opened browser and go back to the page where you did step 8.

Search “config” in the NAME column and click on the link in the VALUE column in the same row.

Search “instanceUuid” in the NAME column. The UUID of the VM is shown in the VALUE column in the same row.