Challenge
A virtual machine (VM) processed with Veeam Backup & Replication (VBR) has a warning that consolidation is required, but consolidation attempts fail.
or
A VM that VBR processed is found to have one or more orphaned snapshots (a snapshot that is attached to the VM but does not show up in the VMware Snapshot Manager).
Cause
This may occur when Virtual Appliance Mode (HOTADD) is used to back up a VM and the following occurs:
VMware does not process the command to release the VM's disk from the proxy.
The Veeam Backup Server crashes while processing a VM.
Jobs running within VBR were forced to stop.
A backup or replication job creates a snapshot on the backup proxy while another job is using that proxy.Note: It is advised to build dedicated VMware Backup Proxies and not back them up or replicate them.
Solution
Before You Begin
Ensure that all jobs have stopped. This will ensure that the only disks that will be found attached to proxies will be the proxy's own disks and the ones that need to be removed.
More Information
If you find that a specific Windows-based Veeam VMware Backup Proxy continues to have issues with disks becoming "stuck HOTADDed" to it, it may be related to automount not being disabled at the OS-level, please review https://www.veeam.com/kb1882.
For more information regarding orphaned snapshots, please review:
Broadcom (VMware) KB310765: Determining if there are leftover delta files or snapshots that VMware vSphere or Infrastructure Client cannot detect
