VMWare error 16053 "One or more required subsystem failed to initialize" while backup

Last Modified

Fri Apr 29 10:16 GMT 2022

Description

  • Backup Manager shows error when backing up Error: "Failed to open Virtual Disk Error: One or more required subsystem failed to initialize (16053)"

Environment

  • Cove Data Protection
  • N-able RMM
    • Backup & Recovery
  • N-able N-central
    • N-able Backup
  • VMware

Solution

  • The cause is usually VDDK libraries are installed on a backup proxy (physical or virtual machine) but when they are installed on vCenter Server, libldap_r.dll and liblber.dll could be different versions, causing "One or more required subsystems failed to initialize" errors.
  • The workaround is to copy both aforementioned DLL files from the VDDK distribution to the folder where you are running the backup executable. In other words to resolve this you need to copy libldap_r.dll and liblber.dll from "C:\Program Files\Backup Manager\vddk" folder to "C:\Program Files\Backup Manager".
  • The other solution is to search the whole system disk for libldap_r.dll and liblber.dll and move them in a separate folder. Usually they can be found here: (but use this with caution - VMWare can fail to start and can require reinstallation after that)
    • C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\VMware\VMware Remote Console Plug-in 5.5\Internet Explore
    • C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\VMware\VMware Remote Console Plug-in 5.5\Firefox
    • C:\Windows\System32
  • More information available here: