HOW TO: Suppress Configuration Issues System logs on host are stored on non-persistent storage

In my previous VMware Articles, most featured Intermediate VMware Topics. My next series of articles will concentrate on topics for the VMware Novice; this is the eleventh article in this series.

If you would like to read the other articles in this series,  they are listed here for your convenience.  

During this series of articles VMware released VMware vSphere 5.5 and VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 5.5. These articles are also applicable to VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 5.x and 5.5. For consistency, I have used VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 5.1 throughout this series.

Part 1: HOW TO: Install and Configure VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1)

Part 2: HOW TO: Connect to the VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) using the vSphere Client

Part 3: HOW TO: Create an ISO CD-ROM/DVD-ROM image (*.iso), and MD5 checksum signature, for use with VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1)

Part 4: HOW TO: Upload an ISO CD-ROM/DVD-ROM image to a VMware datastore for use with VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) using the vSphere Client, and checking its MD5 checksum signature is correct.

Part 5: HOW TO: Enable SSH Remote Access on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1)

Part 6: HOW TO: Create your first Linux Virtual Machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) Host Server

Part 7: HOW TO: Create your first Windows Virtual Machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) Host Server

Part 8: HOW TO: Install VMware Tools for Windows on a VMware Windows virtual machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) Host Server

Part 9: HOW TO: Install VMware Tools for Linux on a VMware Linux virtual machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) Host Server

Part 10: HOW TO: Backup (Export) and Restore (Import) virtual machines to VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 for FREE

In this series of basic VMware articles for the Novice, I'll be showing you the basic VMware skills required to install, configure and deploy virtual machines using VMware's FREE VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi).

When connecting from the vSphere Client, you may have noticed that a Configuration Issues warning yellow box may appear on the Summary page of your host ESXi server.
The SSH and ESXi Configuration Issues can be suppressed as described in my Experts Exchange article HOW TO: Suppress Configuration Issues and Warnings Alert displayed in Summary status for ESXi 4.1 U2 or ESXi 5.0 after enabling SSH or ESXi Shell

The configuration issues are warning that the ESXi Host server System Logs are stored on non-persistent storage. ESXi system logs are required for auditing and diagnostic purposes. This issues can occur when ESXi host servers do not have any local storage, and is also common when ESXi has been installed to a USB flash drive or SD card.

If the system logs are not stored on persistent storage permanently, the system logs will disappear after a reboot of the ESXi server, rendering any auditing or diagnosis impossible.

1. Connect to the VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 5.1 server

Please see my Experts Exchange article
Part 2: HOW TO: Connect to the VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) using the vSphere Client.

2. Change Advanced Settings

Select the Host Server, Configuration Tab > Advanced Settings
On Clicking Advanced Settings, the Advanced Dialogue box will appear
Expand the Syslog entry.

3. Setting Syslog datastore

The variable Syslog.global.logDir is used to define a VMFS datastore location. e.g. [datastore1]

4. Setting Syslog Server

The variable Syslog.global.logHost is used to define the remote host the system logs are sent to. e.g. a Syslog server.

When either of the above variables have been set in Step 3 and Step 4 above, the Configuration Issues System logs on host are stored on non-persistent storage will disappear.
Only the datastore location or syslog server are required, not both. You can set both values if required. We would recommend the logs are sent to a remote Syslog Server, a free Syslog Server is included on the VMware vCenter Server CDROM media, or you could use Free Kiwi Syslog Server, VMware vCenter Log Insight, or Splunk

Congratulations, you have successfully Configured System Logs on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) Host Server, and suppressed the configuration warning.

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