Collecting diagnostic information for VMware ESX/ESXi (653)

Details

Note: If you are directed to this article through a VMware Fusion support request, see Collecting diagnostic information for VMware Fusion (1003894).

VMware Technical Support routinely requests the diagnostic information from you when a support request is addressed. This diagnostic information contains product specific logs and configuration files from the host on which the product is run. This information is gathered using a specific script or tool within the product.

This article provides procedures for obtaining diagnostic information for an VMware ESX/ESXi host using the vSphere or VI Client. For other methods of collecting the same information, see Collecting diagnostic information for VMware ESX/ESXi using the vm-support command (1010705) and Collecting diagnostic information for VMware vCenter Server and ESX/ESXi using the vSphere PowerCLI (1027932).

The diagnostic information obtained by using this article is uploaded to VMware Technical Support. To uniquely identify your information, use the Support Request (SR) number you receive when you create the new SR.

• For information on opening a support request, see How to File a Support Request.
  
• For information on uploading your support files, see Uploading diagnostic information for VMware (1008525).
  
• For information on obtaining diagnostic information for other VMware products, see Collecting diagnostic information for VMware products (1008524).

Solution

Diagnostic information can be obtained from VMware ESX/ESXi hosts using the vSphere or VI Client. The user interface differs between versions, use the instructions appropriate for your version:

• Obtaining Diagnostic Information for ESXi 5.x and 6.0 hosts using the vSphere Client
• Obtaining Diagnostic Information for ESXi 5.x and 6.0 hosts using the vSphere Web Client
• Obtaining Diagnostic Information for ESX/ESXi 4.x hosts using the vSphere Client
• Obtaining Diagnostic Information for ESX/ESXi 2.x and 3.x hosts using the Virtual Infrastructure Client

Obtaining Diagnostic Information for ESXi 5.x and 6.0 hosts using the vSphere Client

ESXi 5.x host diagnostic information can be gathered using the vSphere Client connected to the ESXi host or to vCenter Server.
To gather diagnostic data using the VMware vSphere Client:

1. Open the vSphere Client and connect to vCenter Server or directly to an ESXi 5.x host.
2. Log in using an account with administrative privileges or with the Global.Diagnostics permission.
3. Select an ESXi host, cluster, or datacenter in the inventory.
4. Click the File > Export > Export System Logs.
5. If a group of ESXi hosts are available in the selected context, select the host or group of hosts from the Source list.
6. Click Next.
7. In the System Logs pane, select the components for which the diagnostic information must be obtained. To collect diagnostic information for all the components, click Select All.
   
   Note: Confirm that HungVM is not selected as this may cause a virtual machine failure.
   
8. If required, select the Gather performance data option and specify a duration and interval.
   
   
   
9. Click Next.
10. In the Download Location pane, click Browse and select a location on the client's disk where you have to save the support bundle.
11. Click Next.
12. In the Ready to Complete pane, review the summary and click Finish. The Downloading System Logs Bundles dialog appears and provides progress status for the creation and downloading of the support bundle from each source. A Generate system logs bundles task is created.
13. When complete, upload the logs to the SFTP/FTP site. For more information, see Uploading diagnostic information for VMware (1008525)
    
    

Obtaining Diagnostic Information for ESXi 5.x and 6.0 hosts using the vSphere Web Client  

ESXi 5.x host diagnostic information can be gathered using the vSphere Web Client connected to the ESXi host or to vCenter Server.
To gather diagnostic data using the VMware vSphere Web Client:

1. Open the vSphere Web Client.
2. Log in using an account with administrative privileges or with the Global.Diagnostics permission.
3. Select Hosts and Clusters from the Home tab.
4. Select an ESXi host, or vCenter in the inventory.
5. Click Actions.
6. Select All vCenter Actions > Export System Logs...
7. If a group of ESXi hosts are available in the selected context, select the host or group of hosts from the Source list.
8. Click Next.
9. In the System Logs pane, select the components for which the diagnostic information must be obtained. To collect diagnostic information for all the components, click Select All.
10. If required, select the Gather performance data option and specify a duration and interval.
11. Click Generate Log Bundle.
12. Click Download Log Bundle.
13. Upload the logs to the SFTP/FTP site. For more information, see Uploading diagnostic information for VMware (1008525)

Obtaining Diagnostic Information for ESX/ESXi 4.x hosts using the vSphere Client

ESX/ESXi 4.x host diagnostic information can be gathered using the vSphere Client connected to the ESX/ESXi host or vCenter Server.
To gather diagnostic data using the VMware vSphere Client:

1. Open the vSphere Client and connect to vCenter Server or directly to an ESXi 4.x host.
2. Log in with an administrative user or other account with the Global.Diagnostics permission.
3. Click the File menu, and select Export, Export System Logs.
4. In the Export System Logs dialog, select the host or group of hosts to collect diagnostic information from.
   
   Notes:
   
   • The list of hosts is not displayed when the vSphere Client is directly connected to an ESX/ESXi host.
   • Selecting Include information from vCenter Server and vSphere Client includes logs from vCenter Server and the Client in the same export.
   
   
   
5. Specify a location on the client's disk to save the support bundle. Click the Browse button and select a directory. Click OK.
   
6. A Generate system logs task is created. When complete, the logs will be downloaded by the client. At this stage, it is common to receive a Certificate Security Warning similar to:
   
   
   
   Optionally, view the certificate and install it to prevent future warnings. Click Ignore to download the log bundle.
   
7. The log bundle(s) from the selected host(s) appear in the specified directory. When complete, upload the logs to the SFTP/FTP site. For more information, see Uploading diagnostic information to VMware (1008525).
   

Obtaining Diagnostic Information For ESX 2.x and 3.x hosts using the Virtual Infrastructure Client

ESX/ESXi 3.x and ESX 2.x host diagnostic information can be gathered using the VMware Virtual Infrastructure (VI) Client connected to the ESX/ESXi host or to the VirtualCenter Server.
To gather diagnostic data using the VMware VI Client:

1. Open the VI Client and connect to VirtualCenter Server or directly to an ESX/ESXi host.
2. Log in with an administrative user or other account with the Global.Diagnostics permission.
3. Click the File menu, and select Export, Export Diagnostic Datas.
4. In the Save Diagnostic Data dialog, select the host or group of hosts to collect diagnostic information from.
   
   Note:
   
   • The list of hosts is not displayed when the VI Client is directly connected to an ESX/ESXi host.
   • Selecting Include information from VirtualCenter Server includes logs from vCenter Server in the same export.
   
   
   
5. Specify a location on the client's disk to save the support bundle. Click the Browse button and select a directory. Click OK.
   
6. A Generate System Logs task is created. When complete, the logs will be downloaded by the client. At this stage, it is common to receive a Certificate Problem Warning similar to:
   
   
   
   Optionally, select to ignore certificate errors. Click Ignore to download the log bundle.
   
7. The log bundle(s) from the selected host(s) appear in the specified directory. When complete, upload the logs to the SFTP/FTP site. For more information, see
    Uploading diagnostic information to VMware (1008525).