Re: How to delete the broken snapshot delta disk files

Just use snapshot-manager from vmware client to delete snapshot.

Or

Cleanup: Removing the base disk and related snapshot delta disks via the ESX host terminal

Note: See the section Confirming the Virtual Machine's Snapshot Delta Disk Layout Using the ESX Host Terminal below before proceeding with the provided steps.

1. Confirm that the respective delta disk files are not locked while  this virtual machine is powered-on. They should not be, at this stage.  Run this command:
   
   

   touch -a examplevm-??????-delta.vmdk

   
   Note: Running the command with "??????" would test all delta files in the directory. If you have multiple virtual hard disks, substitute "examplevm-??????" with applicable values to the virtual disk in question (previously cloned).

   
   If  the command is successful to all files, no output is given and you are  returned to the prompt. If there are failures due to locking, however:
   
   

   touch: cannot touch `examplevm-000001-delta.vmdk': Device or resource busy
   touch: cannot touch `examplevm-000002-delta.vmdk': Device or resource busy
2. Remove the snapshot delta and base disk extent/descriptor files using the vmkfstools command.
   
   

   vmkfstools -U examplevm-000003.vmdk
   vmkfstools -U examplevm-000002.vmdk
   vmkfstools -U examplevm-000001.vmdk
   vmkfstools -U examplevm.vmdk

   
   

   Note: The descriptor files are referenced, as opposed to the extents (*-delta.vmdk or *-flat.vmdk files)

   
   Again, any failures due to locked files will present an error:
   
   

   Failed to delete virtual disk: Device or resource busy (1048585).

Cheers,

Denis