I have an old linux (kernel 2.2x) server that we virtualized a few years ago that I am trying to transition to an ESXi 6.0U1a server. It was initially created with VMware Workstation version 6. The first issue I came across was that the Virtual Hardware version needed to be upgraded. Trying to make as little change as possible to the VM to keep it running but upgrading to something supported by our entire infrastructure, I upgraded to hardware version 7 based on this: VMware KB: ESXi/ESX hosts and compatible virtual machine hardware versions list.
After upgrading the virtual hardware it still worked on VMware Workstation 12. But after moving it to the ESXi 6.0U1a server it fails to start with the error "Device 'Bootstrap' is not available". I was unable to find any search results based on this error message. With the VM working in workstation and as I have several ESXi servers running different versions I decided to try it on the older servers. The VM boots fine on ESXi 4.1U3. On ESXi 5.5U3 it fails to boot with a different error message: "Failed to start the virtual machine (error -18)". That led me to this: VMware KB: The virtual machine fails to start with the error: msg.vmx.poweron.failedErrorCodewhich suggests looking at the VM's .vmx file. One of the linked articles talks about deleting the .vmx file and then recreating the VM utilizing the existing disks.
I decided to attempt this route and renamed the original .vmx file, and then recreated the VM from the vSphere Client on the ESXi 6.0U1a server. Trying to start the newly created VM results in the exact same error message I started with: "Device 'Bootstrap' is not available". The event log on the server has an error that is probably more pertinent: "Cannot open the configuration file" (Identical error message for both .vmx files) If I SSH into the server I am able to view/edit the .vmx file, so I am really confused at what is going on.
Any help?
Rob