By default, a core dump is saved to the local disk. You can use the ESXi Dump Collector to keep core dumps on a network server for use during debugging.

The ESXi Dump Collector is especially useful for Auto Deploy, but supported for any ESXi 5.0 and later host. The ESXi Dump Collector supports other customization, including sending core dumps to the local disk.

The ESXi Dump Collector is included with the vCenter Server autorun.exe application. You can install the ESXi Dump Collector on the same system as the vCenter Server service or on a different Windows or Linux machine. See vSphere Networking.

You can configure ESXi hosts to use the ESXi Dump Collector by using the Host Profiles interface of the vSphere Web Client, or by using ESXCLI. Specify one of the options listed in Connection Options for vCLI Host Management Commands in place of <conn_options>.

Procedure

  1. Set up an ESXi system to use the ESXi Dump Collector by running esxcli system coredump. 
    esxcli <conn_options> system coredump network set --interface-name vmk0 --server-ipv4=1-XX.XXX --server-port=6500
    You must specify a VMkernel port with --interface-name, and the IP address and port of the server to send the core dumps to. If you configure an ESXi system that is running inside a virtual machine, you must choose a VMkernel port that is in promiscuous mode.
  2. Enable the ESXi Dump Collector. 
    esxcli <conn_options> system coredump network set --enable=true
  3. (Optional) Check that the ESXi Dump Collector is configured correctly. 
    esxcli <conn_options> system coredump network get

Results

The host on which you have set up the ESXi Dump Collector sends core dumps to the specified server by using the specified VMkernel NIC and optional port.