> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://platform9.com/kb/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://platform9.com/kb/pmo/solution/instance-unable-to-be-deleted-stuck-in-spawning-build-state.md).

# Instance Unable to be Deleted, Stuck in Spawning/Build State

## Problem

* An instance is unable to be deleted and it's still showing in a spawning/build state.
* The following is observed in `/var/log/pf9/ostackhost.log` on the instance's hypervisor.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="None" %}

```none
INFO nova.compute.manager [...] [instance: <UUID>] During hypervisor state sync the instance has a pending task (deleting), skipping
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## Environment

* Platform9 Managed OpenStack - v3.10 and Higher
* Nova

## Cause

The instance has another actively-running task which cannot be interrupted. For example, if the image is still being downloaded to the hypervisor and a deletion is issued, the image will continue being downloaded, and the deletion task will not be processed until afterward, or until the service is restarted.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="None" %}

```none
INFO nova.virt.libvirt.driver [...] Creating image
INFO nova.compute.manager [...] During hypervisor state sync the instance has a pending task (spawning), skipping...
INFO nova.compute.manager [...] During hypervisor state sync the instance has a pending task (deleting), skipping
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## Resolution

1. Wait for the active task to complete.
2. Alternatively, or subsequently, should the task never complete, restart the `pf9-ostackhost` service on the hypervisor.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="None" %}

```none
# systemctl restart pf9-ostackhost
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

Afterward, the following should be observed in `/var/log/pf9/ostackhost.log` confirming the deletion.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="None" %}

```none
INFO nova.compute.manager [...] [instance: <INSTANCE_UUID>] Service started deleting the instance during the previous run, but did not finish. Restarting the deletion now.
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}


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