PowerFlex: Power on VM fails error A general system error occurred: vDS host error

Summary: This article provides information about troubleshooting and fixing the virtual machine (VM) error: A general system error occurred: vDS host error

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Symptoms

Powering on a virtual machine (VM) fails with the error:

A general system error occurred: vDS host error

Or 

A general system error occurred: vDS host error: see faultCause Cannot create DVPort ### of VDS <DISTRIBUTED SWITCH NAME> on the host <hostname.example.com>

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 7.0.x
VMware vCenter Server 8.0.x
vSphere ESXi 7.x 
vSphere ESXi 8.x
VCF 9.0

Cause

An incorrect database record for the particular VM virtual network interface card (NIC) causes this issue.

Resolution

Caution: This procedure is valid ONLY for vSphere-only environments. Readding VM virtual NICs can cause unanticipated difficulties when using add-on products such as:
  • vRealize Automation
  • Horizon View
  • vCloud Director
  • VMware Integrated OpenStack
If you have any uncertainty about whether other products have been added onto vCenter Server, do not follow this procedure.

To resolve this issue, readd the virtual NIC to create a clean database record for the VM.
Steps:
  1. Find the VM object in the vCenter Hosts and Clusters view.
  2. Right-click the VM and select Edit Settings
  3. Make note of all the virtual NIC settings.
  4. Delete the virtual NIC. If the VM has more than one virtual NIC, only remove one virtual NIC at a time. If you are using vCloud Director, see Remove a Network Interface (External Link)
  1. Save the change.
  2. Right-click the VM again and select Edit Settings
  3. Readd the virtual NIC using the same settings.

If the VM has more than one virtual NIC, and still does not power on, use steps 1-7 for the next virtual NIC.

Prior to following the steps for removing NIC and adding back, the issue may be resolved by also changing the port group on the VM, powering it on and then change it back to the original.

Ensure you write down the original port group assigned to the VM, and change it back to this once the VM is up and running again. 

Additional Information

Impact or Risks:
Removing then readding VM virtual NICs should NOT be done when using VMware add-on products such as:

  • vRealize Automation
  • Horizon View
  • vCloud Director
  • VMware Integrated OpenStack

See article Failed to power on virtual machine (External Link)
See article Error: "A general system error occurred: vDS host error" powering on a virtual machine (External Link)

Affected Products

PowerFlex rack, ScaleIO
Article Properties
Article Number: 000384370
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 27 Jan 2026
Version:  3
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