Fixed: VMware Another Task Is Already in Progress

Users often encounter various errors, one of the most common being "another task is already in progress." This error can halt your operations and cause frustration. Let's delve into the causes and solutions to resolve this issue efficiently.

By @Crystal Last Updated November 1, 2024

Warning: 'Another task is already in progress' in VMware

Error: You cannot view the specific problem from the Web console and cannot power off the virtual machine, and received a message "another task is already in progress" in the scenario of

📌Cause: The "another task is already in progress" message typically occurs due to stuck processes, lock files, service interruptions.

  • A task may be running in the background, causing subsequent tasks to be queued.

  • VMware creates temporary lock files to prevent data corruption. If these files are not cleared properly, they can block new tasks.

  • If VMware services crash or fail, it may lead to tasks being unresponsive..

How to fix VMware another task is already in progress [Solution]

To fix the issue, you should first connect to the host running the virtual machine via SSH and use the command vim-cmd to determine what is happening and how the task is progressing.

1. Identify the VM IDs required for subsequent commands, and find the VMID for the corresponding VMs.

vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms

2. Get the list of tasks associated with a particular VM.

vim-cmd vmsvc/get.tasklist VMID

3. Find out more about the task, including the process, completion time, etc.

vim-cmd vimsvc/task_info task_identifier

4. To clear this task, run the command:

service mgmt-vmware restart service vmware-vpxa restart

You can run this command flexibly to check the progress of running tasks, helping you to identify “hidden” tasks that may no longer be displayed in the Web management interface, but are still active.

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FAQ

Should I always update VMware?
 
The answer is NO. But you can choose to clone HDD to SSD with same size to get better performance, especially when the used space is less than size of the HDD. If you don't have enough budget, cloning a large HDD to a smaller SSD will be a better choice.
Can I try system reboot to fix VMware errors?
 
Generally speaking, rebooting the host computer will temporarily remove the running tasks, but to completely fix the issue, use the steps mentioned in the article.
Is it safe to delete .lck files?
 
Locked files are not inherently dangerous, but may prevent operation if not removed correctly. Deleting .lck files is usually safe as long as the virtual machine is not running.

Conclusion

By following the steps in this article, you should be able to resolve the error and manage your VMware environment effectively.

With AOMEI Cyber Backup, you can take control of your virtual machine backups and reduce the risk of errors. Use the free VMware backup software to protect your data with this powerful backup solution and ensure your VMware environment runs smoothly and efficiently.

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