VMWare Tools connection plugin frequently bombs against Windows targets: StartProgramInGuest Error: File /bin/sh was not found

[wouterhummelink]

SUMMARY

ISSUE TYPE

• Bug Report

COMPONENT NAME

community.vmware.vmware_tools connection plugin

ANSIBLE VERSION

AAP 2.4 / Ansible 2.15 execution environment

COLLECTION VERSION

community.vmware:3.11.2

CONFIGURATION

ansible_connection: community.vmware.vmware_tools
ansible_user: Administrator
ansible_password: "sensitive"
ansible_shell_type: powershell
ansible_vmware_guest_path: /{{ deploy_windows_datacenter }}/vm/{{ deploy_windows_vm_folder }}/{{ deploy_windows_vm_name }}
ansible_vmware_validate_certs: false

OS / ENVIRONMENT

Windows 2016/2019/2022

STEPS TO REPRODUCE

We run this playbook many times per day, most succeed, but a significant percentage will bomb on a random task, or even on the wait_for_connection.

- name: Wait for connection
  ansible.builtin.wait_for_connection:
    connect_timeout: 5
    timeout: 600
    delay: 0
    sleep: 10

- name: Setup
  ansible.builtin.setup:
  register: setup
  retries: 3
  until: setup is succeeded

EXPECTED RESULTS

Jobs don't attempt to /bin/sh against windows targets

ACTUAL RESULTS

TASK [deploy_windows : Wait for connection] ************************************
task path: /runner/project/roles/deploy_windows/tasks/post_config.yml:8
wait_for_connection: attempting ping module test
wait_for_connection: attempting ping module test
wait_for_connection: attempting ping module test
Using module file /runner/requirements_collections/ansible_collections/ansible/windows/plugins/modules/win_ping.ps1
fatal: [cdmde117cf36ae3]: FAILED! => {
    "msg": "StartProgramInGuest Error: File /bin/sh was not found"
}