You can configure an ESXi Dump Collector to store core dumps either by using ESXCLI commands or by configuring a reference host.

Hosts provisioned with vSphere Auto Deploy do not have a local disk on which to store core dumps. You can configure an ESXi Dump Collector to store core dumps either by using ESXCLI commands or by configuring a reference host to use the ESXi Dump Collector by using the Host Profiles feature in the vSphere Client.

Configure ESXi Dump Collector with ESXCLI

Hosts provisioned with vSphere Auto Deploy do not have a local disk to store core dumps on. You can configure ESXi Dump Collector by using ESXCLI commands and keep core dumps on a network server for use during debugging.

A core dump is the state of working memory if there is host failure. By default, a core dump is saved to the local disk. ESXi Dump Collector is especially useful for vSphere Auto Deploy, but is supported for any ESXi host. ESXi Dump Collector supports other customization, including sending core dumps to the local disk and is included with the vCenter Server management node.

Note: ESXi Dump Collector is not supported to be configured on a VMkernel interface that is running on a NSX-T N-VDS switch.

If you intend to use IPv6, and if both the ESXi host and ESXi Dump Collector are on the same local link, both can use either local link scope IPv6 addresses or global scope IPv6 addresses.

If you intend to use IPv6, and if ESXi and ESXi Dump Collector are on different hosts, both require global scope IPv6 addresses. The traffic routes through the default IPv6 gateway.

Prerequisites

Install ESXCLI if you want to configure the host to use ESXi Dump Collector. In troubleshooting situations, you can use ESXCLI in the ESXi Shell instead.

Procedure

  1. Set up an ESXi system to use ESXi Dump Collector by running esxcli system coredump in the local ESXi Shell or by using ESXCLI. 
     esxcli system coredump network set --interface-name vmk0	--server-ip 10xx.xx.xx.xx --server-port 6500
    You must specify a VMkernel NIC and the IP address and optional port of the server to send the core dumps to. You can use an IPv4 address or an IPv6 address. If you configure an ESXi system that is running on a virtual machine that is using a vSphere standard switch, you must select a VMkernel port that is in promiscuous mode.
  2. Enable ESXi Dump Collector. 
    esxcli system coredump network set --enable true
  3. (Optional) Verify that ESXi Dump Collector is configured correctly. 
    esxcli system coredump network check

Results

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

What to do next

  • Create a rule that applies the host profile to all hosts that you want to provision with the settings specified in the reference host. For writing a rule in a PowerCLI session, see Write a Rule and Assign a Host Profile to Hosts.
  • For hosts that are already provisioned with vSphere Auto Deploy, perform the test and repair compliance operations in a PowerCLI session, see Test and Repair Rule Compliance.
  • Power on unprovisioned hosts to provision them with the new host profile.

Configure ESXi Dump Collector from the Host Profiles Feature in the vSphere Client

Hosts provisioned with vSphere Auto Deploy do not have a local disk to store core dumps on. You can configure a reference host to use ESXi Dump Collector by using the Host Profiles feature in the vSphere Client.

Best practice is to set up hosts to use ESXi Dump Collector with the esxcli system coredump command and save the host profile. For more information, see Configure ESXi Dump Collector with ESXCLI.

Prerequisites

  • Verify that you have created the host profile on which you want to configure a coredump policy. For more information on how to create a host profile, see the vSphere Host Profiles documentation.
  • Verify that at least one partition has sufficient storage capability for core dumps from multiple hosts provisioned with vSphere Auto Deploy.

Procedure

  1. Navigate to Home > Policies and Profiles > Host Profiles.
  2. Click the host profile you want to configure and select the Configure tab.
  3. Click Edit Host Profile.
  4. Select Networking Configuration > Network Coredump Settings.
  5. Select the Enabled check box.
  6. Specify the host NIC to use, the Network Coredump Server IP, and the Network Coredump Server Port.
  7. Click Save to complete the host profile configuration.

What to do next

  • Create a rule that applies the host profile to all hosts that you want to provision with the settings specified in the reference host. For writing a rule in a PowerCLI session, see Write a Rule and Assign a Host Profile to Hosts.
  • For hosts that are already provisioned with vSphere Auto Deploy, perform the test and repair compliance operations in a PowerCLI session, see Test and Repair Rule Compliance.
  • Power on unprovisioned hosts to provision them with the new host profile.