Back up all your Microsoft Windows Server – on-premises, in remote locations, in private and hybrid clouds. Your entire Windows Server will be backed up in one easy step with patented, block-level disk imaging. We achieve RTOs (recovery time objectives) as low as 15 seconds.
Solved
vCenter Appliance - Server (vpxd) will not start
Posted on 2014-12-29
I am running the Linux-based vCenter appliance version 5.1.0.10100 Build 1123965 and am using the embedded database. As of this morning, I can no longer connect to the server with the vi client. The web GUI responds on port 5480 and the "Summary" shows that the "Server" is "stopped". Clicking "start" does not change the Server status.
I logged into the appliance and tried starting the vmware-vpxd service manually and I get a "failed" status. I looked at the vpxd.log file and am receiving the following error:
Failed to connect to database : ODBC error: (08001) - [unixODBC] could not connect to server: Connection refused. (See attached image)
Using the web GUI, I tried the "Test Settings" button on the database page and I receive an error "Incompatible DB schema version" (See attached image)
I tried the steps in this article: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2035070 This procedure fails with the same error "Incompatible DB schema version". (See attached image)
This problem happened once before where the Server service showed "stopped" in the web GUI, but a reboot of the appliance fixed the problem. This time a reboot did not work.
Nothing has changed on this server and it was working fine when I left the office on Friday. Any ideas on what's going on here and how to fix it?
Thanks in advance for your assistance!
ODBC-Error.jpg
Web-GUI-Schema-Error.jpg
vpxd-start-error.jpg
I logged into the appliance and tried starting the vmware-vpxd service manually and I get a "failed" status. I looked at the vpxd.log file and am receiving the following error:
Failed to connect to database : ODBC error: (08001) - [unixODBC] could not connect to server: Connection refused. (See attached image)
Using the web GUI, I tried the "Test Settings" button on the database page and I receive an error "Incompatible DB schema version" (See attached image)
I tried the steps in this article: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2035070 This procedure fails with the same error "Incompatible DB schema version". (See attached image)
This problem happened once before where the Server service showed "stopped" in the web GUI, but a reboot of the appliance fixed the problem. This time a reboot did not work.
Nothing has changed on this server and it was working fine when I left the office on Friday. Any ideas on what's going on here and how to fix it?
Thanks in advance for your assistance!
ODBC-Error.jpg
Web-GUI-Schema-Error.jpg
vpxd-start-error.jpg
[X]
Welcome to Experts Exchange
Add your voice to the tech community where 5M+ people just like you are talking about what matters.
- Help others & share knowledge
- Earn cash & points
- Learn & ask questions
-
6
2
8 Comments
Active 2 days ago
The easiest thing to do is to upgrade as this seems to be a bug.
http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2063954
I always suggest using the windows version of vcenter as it seems to work a little better IMO.
http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2063954
I always suggest using the windows version of vcenter as it seems to work a little better IMO.
Zindel1 - The article you suggested "VMware vCenter Server Appliance service fails to start after an upgrade to 5.1" would not apply in this situation as there was no upgrade performed. This vCenter VM has been on the same version for over a year I believe (I am new to this environment). This server has been working fine and just failed, untouched, over the weekend.
Thanks for the suggestion to use the Windows version, but that is not an option at this point. I just need to fix the existing installation.
Thanks for the suggestion to use the Windows version, but that is not an option at this point. I just need to fix the existing installation.
Active 2 days ago
Is the vcenter appliance using a local database or a remote one? I would still suggest reinstalling the vcenter even if you use the appliance but if that is out then we can start looking at deeper options.
Connect to the vCenter Server Appliance via SSH as the root user. The default password is vmware.
Note: To enable SSH on the vCenter Server Appliance 5.0, see the Enable or Disable SSH Administrator Login on the VMware vCenter Server Appliance section of the vCenter Server and Host Management Guide.
Run this command to stop the vpxd service:
service vmware-vpxd stop
Run this command:
/usr/sbin/vpxd_odbcconfig
You see output similar to:
VMware vCenter Server Appliance ODBC Configuration
Choose a database to use with VMware vCenter Server
1) oracle
2) embedded
Enter 2.
You see output similar to:
Configuring ODBC for embedded
Operation was successful.
Database already populated with version VirtualCenter Database 5.0
Reinitialize database? (WARNING: WILL DELETE ALL RECORDS) [y(es)|N(O)]: OK, preserving the database. (select No to preserve the database)
Restart vCenter Server now to activate the database changes [y/N]:y
Successfully restarted vCenter Server
Connect to the vCenter Server Appliance via SSH as the root user. The default password is vmware.
Note: To enable SSH on the vCenter Server Appliance 5.0, see the Enable or Disable SSH Administrator Login on the VMware vCenter Server Appliance section of the vCenter Server and Host Management Guide.
Run this command to stop the vpxd service:
service vmware-vpxd stop
Run this command:
/usr/sbin/vpxd_odbcconfig
You see output similar to:
VMware vCenter Server Appliance ODBC Configuration
Choose a database to use with VMware vCenter Server
1) oracle
2) embedded
Enter 2.
You see output similar to:
Configuring ODBC for embedded
Operation was successful.
Database already populated with version VirtualCenter Database 5.0
Reinitialize database? (WARNING: WILL DELETE ALL RECORDS) [y(es)|N(O)]: OK, preserving the database. (select No to preserve the database)
Restart vCenter Server now to activate the database changes [y/N]:y
Successfully restarted vCenter Server
Zindel1 - Thanks for the suggestion to use the VMware vCenter Server Appliance ODBC Configuration CLI tool, but if you look at my original post and the images, you'll see that I've already done that and it failed.
Zindel1 - I tried your suggestion about updating to the latest version (Update 3), but the update failed. (See image)
Do you or anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks!
vCenter-Update-Failure.jpg
Do you or anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks!
vCenter-Update-Failure.jpg
According to this article: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2031331 ....
"To monitor the progress of the update, see the /opt/vmware/var/log/vami/u
See attached image of the updatecli.log for failure message for the update attempt.
updatecli.log.jpg
"To monitor the progress of the update, see the /opt/vmware/var/log/vami/u
See attached image of the updatecli.log for failure message for the update attempt.
updatecli.log.jpg
Featured Post
Watch and learn to see how ATEN provided an easy and effective way for three jointly-owned pubs to control the 60 televisions located across their three venues utilizing the ATEN Control System, Modular Matrix Switch and HDBaseT extenders.
Question has a verified solution.
If you are experiencing a similar issue, please ask a related question
Veeam Backup & Replication has added a new integration – Veeam Backup for Microsoft Office 365. In this blog, we will discuss how you can benefit from Office 365 email backup with the Veeam’s new product and try to shed some light on the needs and …
In this article, I will show you HOW TO: Install VMware Tools for Windows on a VMware Windows virtual machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5 (ESXi 6.5) Host Server, using the VMware Host Client. The virtual machine has Windows Server 2016 instal…
Teach the user how to install ESXi 5.5 and configure the management network
System Requirements: ESXi Installation: Management Network Configuration: Management Network Testing:
This tutorial will walk an individual through the steps necessary to enable the VMware\Hyper-V licensed feature of Backup Exec 2012. In addition, how to add a VMware server and configure a backup job.
The first step is to acquire the necessary licen…
Suggested Courses
Course of the Month6 days, 20 hours left to enroll
704 members asked questions and received personalized solutions in the past 7 days.
Join the community of 500,000 technology professionals and ask your questions.