VMware consolidation fails. Unable to access file since it is locked

Error: Unable to access file since it is locked
Error: Virtual machine disks consolidation needed.

Cause: Happen while backup running. Backup proxy server doesn't release/delete vm's snapshot properly. Vmdk file locked/used by the backup proxy server or VMware host. 

Solution Method 1: 

1. Go to backup proxy server, edit settings. Check is the vm's vmdk file attached with backup proxy server.

2. Remove the vm's vmdk from backup proxy server. (Remove only. Do Not delete from disk)

Solution Method 2:

1. SSH to VMware host.
2. Find your VM in datastore.

    cd /vmfs/volumes/your datastore name/your VM name

    (you can use Tab key to list all datastore name and VM name)

    (Use " " of \ if path with space. E.g.: cd "vmfs/volumes/datastore1/AD 1" or  cd vmfs/volumes/datastore1/AD\ 1)

3. Use vmkfstools to find the current vmdk owner.
   
    vmkfstools -D your VM name-flat.vmdk

   (you can use Tab key to list all vmdk in your VM folder)

4. Check the owner. The last part is the network MAC address. Search the MAC belong to which host. Once your manage to get it, reboot the host. (You also can kill pid command without reboot the host. Use lsof  |grep vmname command).

5. If your environment too huge with many hosts, you can try use vmfsfilelockinfo command.

    vmfsfilelockinfo -p /vmfs/volumes/your datastore name/your VM name -v your vcenter name