Exporting the system logs for ESXi host fails with the error: A general system error occurred: internal error
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Article ID: 308544
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Updated On:
Products
VMware vCenter ServerVMware vSphere ESXi
Issue/Introduction
Symptoms:
Exporting the system logs for an ESXi host by connecting to the host directly using vSphere Client fails.
You see the error: A general system error occurred: internal error
The /var/log/messages log on the ESXi host contains entries similar to:
May 18 02:41:54 Hostd: VMware ESX Support Script 1.33 May 18 02:41:54 Hostd: Could not set working directory to '/usr/lib/vmware/hostd/docroot/downloads/'. May 18 02:41:54 Hostd: [2011-05-18 02:41:54.348 30670B90 warning 'HostsvcPlugin' opID=2805D4DA-00000045] /usr/sbin/vm-support: cd: line 2448: can't cd to /usr/lib/vmware/hostd/docroot/downloads/ May 18 02:41:54 Hostd: [2011-05-18 02:41:54.348 30670B90 warning 'HostsvcPlugin' opID=2805D4DA-00000045] === END COMMAND OUTPUT === May 18 02:41:54 Hostd: [2011-05-18 02:41:54.348 30670B90 info 'TaskManager' opID=2805D4DA-00000045] Task Completed : haTask-ha-host-vim.DiagnosticManager.generateLogBundles-542800 Status error
scratch-partition export-system-logs esxi-logging
Environment
VMware vCenter Server 4.1.x VMware ESXi 4.1.x Embedded
Resolution
This issue occurs if there is no scratch partition on the ESXi host or the /usr/lib/vmware/hostd/docroot/downloadsdirectory is not accessible.