Accessing the console of a Windows virtual machine through Web Access in ESX 4.0 times out

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• You cannot open the console of a Windows virtual machine through vSphere Client Web Access.
• Opening the console of a Windows virtual machine through vSphere Web Access times out.
• Closing and reopening vCenter client does not fix problem.
• You see one or more of the following errors:
• • The attempt to acquire a valid session ticket for <virtual machine> took longer than expected.
  • Cannot access virtual machine console. The request timed out.

Environment

VMware ESX 4.0.x

Resolution

This issue is resolved in vCenter 4.0 Update 1. For more information, see VMware vCenter Server 4.0 Update 1 Release Notes Resolved Issues.

This issue may be as a result of Windows permissions issues. If you cannot upgrade at the moment and require the fix, use the workaround below:

Users must have Windows Administrator privileges to access a virtual machine's console. If you do not have Windows Administrator privileges, opening a virtual machine console times out. You can perform other functions and operations if you have vCenter Server administrator privileges, but you cannot open a virtual machine console.

To grant appropriate Windows permissions on your vCenter server to resolve this issue:

1. Log into the vCenter server with a user with Administrative privileges.
2. Click Start > Run, type compmgmt.msc, and click OK.
3. Temporarily place the user in the Local Administrators group. For more information, see the Local Users and Groups page from Microsoft's TechNet.
4. Place a shortcut for that particular virtual machine on the desktop:
5. 1. While the user is in the Local Administrators group, log in to vCenter Server via Web Access.
   2. Click the virtual machine then the Summary tab.
   3. Select the Generate Virtual machine desktop shortcut option.
   4. Click OK.
      
6. Return to vCenter Server and revert the changes to the user account. For more information, see the Local Users and Groups page from Microsoft's TechNet.
7. Access the console of the virtual machine through the shortcut on the desktop.
   
   Note: The preceding links were correct as of February 24, 2010. If you find a link is broken, provide feedback and a VMware employee will update the link.