Knowledgebase

VMware vSphere PowerCLI can be used to download a vc-support or vm-support log bundle from VMware vSphere vCenter Server and/or ESX/ESXi hosts, or to view or search the individual log files stored on the host. For more information on VMware PowerCLI, see the VMware vSphere PowerCLI Documentation.

Connecting to vCenter Server or an ESX/ESXi host with PowerCLI

To run specific vSphere PowerCLI cmdlets and perform administration or monitoring tasks, you must connect to vCenter Server or an ESX/ESXi host.

1. Launch the vSphere PowerCLI.
   
2. In the vSphere PowerCLI console window, establish a connection to an ESX/ESXi host or a vCenter Server using the command:
   
   Connect-VIServer -Server HostnameOrIPAddress
   
   The output appears similar to: 
   
   Name                    Port     User
----                    ----     ----
HostnameOrIPAddress     443      Username
   
   Note: If the certificate is not trusted, a warnings displays. Depending on your security policy, these warnings can be ignored.

Downloading a diagnostic log bundle from vCenter Server

To download a vc-support diagnostic log bundle from vCenter Server:

1. Enter the command:
   
   Get-Log -Bundle -DestinationPath c:\Storage\Location\
   
   The output appears similar to: 
   
   Data
----
C:\Storage\Location\vc-support-nnnnnnnn-nnnn-nnnn-nnnn-nnnnnnnnnnnn.tgz
   
   
2. No progress bar is provided for the command. When complete, upload the logs to the FTP site. For more information, seeUploading diagnostic information to VMware (1008525).

Download a diagnostic log bundle from an ESX/ESXi host

To download a vm-support diagnostic log bundle from an ESX/ESXi host managed by vCenter Server:

1. Enter the command:
   
   Get-VMHost HostNameOrIP | Get-Log -Bundle -DestinationPath c:\Storage\Location\
   
   The output appears similar to: 
   
   Data
----
C:\Storage\Location\vm-support-nnnnnnnn-nnnn-nnnn-nnnn-nnnnnnnnnnnn.tgz
   
   
2. No progress bar is provided for the command. When complete, upload the logs to the FTP site. For more information, seeUploading diagnostic information to VMware (1008525).

Displaying the content of specific log files on an ESX/ESXi host

To review a specific log file on an ESX/ESXi host, use the Get-LogType and Get-Log commandlets:

1. Determine what log files are exposed by a given vCenter Server or ESX/ESXi host using the Get-LogType commandlet. Logs are identified by a Key name.
   
   
   • For the connected vCenter Server: Get-LogType
   • For a specific ESX/ESXi host: Get-VMHost HostNameOrIP | Get-LogType
   
   The output appears similar to: 
   
   Key               Summary
----              -------
hostd             Server log in 'plain' format
messages          Server log in 'plain' format
vmkernel          Server log in 'plain' format
vmksummary        Server log in 'plain' format
vmkwarning        Server log in 'plain' format
vpxa              vCenter agent log in 'plain' format
   
   
2. View a specific log on the the given vCenter Server or ESX/ESXi host, specifying a Key from Get-LogType:
   
   
   • For the connected vCenter Server: Get-Log VCLogKey | Select -expand Entries | More
   • For a specific ESX/ESXi host: Get-VMHost HostNameOrIP | Get-Log HostLogKey | Select -expand Entries | More
   
   Example:
   
   Get-VMHost 10.11.12.13 | Get-Log hostd | Select -expand Entries | More

Section for VMware ESXi, pid 4993, version=4.1.0, build=build-260247, option=Release
[2009-09-17 10:41:07.886 2EB82B90 verbose 'Cimsvc'] Ticket issued for CIMOM version 1.0, user root
[2009-09-17 10:41:09.340 2EB82B90 verbose 'DvsManager'] PersistAllDvsInfo called
[2009-09-17 10:41:09.340 2E1F2B90 verbose 'DvsTracker'] FetchSwitches: added 1 items
   
   Note: In this example, you are reviewing the hostd management agent logs. The output is displayed one page at a time. The same command can be used for other log files (for example, hostd, vpxa, vmkernel, vmksummary, andvmkwarning). The logs available may differ between versions of vCenter Server and ESX/ESXi.
   
   
3. To search the logs for a specific string, use the Select-String commandlet:
   
   Get-VMHost HostNameOrIP | Get-Log LogName | Select -expand Entries | Select-String SearchTerm| More