usage meter : vCenter collection fails with Failed customer rule collection – Could not find instanceUuid of the VM with moref: vm-2044 from VC server with id: 8.Could not find instanceUuid

vcenter collection fails with error:” Failed customer rule collection – Could not find instanceUuid of the VM with moref: vm-xxxx from VC server with id: x.Could not find instanceUuid”

cause: usage meter receives an error when attempting to query the UUID of the VM moref seen on the error.

on the vCenter inventory, you will also see stale/orphaned/inaccessible machines

Resolution: Unregister/remove the invalid vm’s from the vCenter inventory and wait for the next collection cycle (collection occurs every hour)