Create a diagnostic partition for your ESXi host.

Note: This task is available only in the vSphere Web Client.

When you create a diagnostic partition, the following considerations apply:

  • You cannot create a diagnostic partition on an iSCSI LUN accessed through the software iSCSI or dependent hardware iSCSI adapter. For more information about diagnostic partitions with iSCSI, see General Recommendations for Boot from iSCSI SAN.
  • You cannot create a diagnostic partition on a LUN accessed through software FCoE.
  • Unless you are using diskless servers, set up a diagnostic partition on local storage.
  • Each host must have a diagnostic partition of 2.5 GB. If multiple hosts share a diagnostic partition on a SAN LUN, the partition must be large enough to accommodate core dumps of all hosts.
  • If a host that uses a shared diagnostic partition fails, reboot the host and extract log files immediately after the failure. Otherwise, the second host that fails before you collect the diagnostic data of the first host might save the core dump.

Procedure

  1. Navigate to the host.
  2. Right-click the host, and select Add Diagnostic Partition.
    If you do not see this menu item, the host already has a diagnostic partition.
  3. Specify the type of diagnostic partition.
    Menu Item Description
    Private local Creates the diagnostic partition on a local disk. This partition stores fault information only for your host.
    Private SAN storage Creates the diagnostic partition on a non-shared SAN LUN. This partition stores fault information only for your host.
    Shared SAN storage Creates the diagnostic partition on a shared SAN LUN. Multiple hosts can access this partition. It can store fault information for more than one host.
  4. Click Next.
  5. Select the device to use for the diagnostic partition and click Next.
  6. Review the partition configuration information and click Finish.