VMware VirtualCenter Server service fails to start with the error: vpxd logs show ODBC error: (08001) - [Microsoft][SQL Native Client]TCP Provider: Timeout error [258].

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Unable to start VMware VirtualCenter Server service after a recent reboot.
• Starting VMware VirtualCenter Server service fails.
• You see the error:
  
  The description for event ID 1000 from source Vmware virtual center server cannot be found.
  Either the component that raises the event is not installed on your local computer or the installation is corrupted.
  You can install or repair the component on the local computer.
  
  
• In the vpxd.log, located at C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\VirtualCenter\logs, you see the error:
  
  ODBC error: (08001) - [Microsoft][SQL Native Client]TCP Provider: Timeout error [258].
  
  
• The SQL server service starts and runs properly.
• The authentication used is correct.
• This issue occurs only after the recent reboot.

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 4.1.x
VMware vCenter Server 5.1.x
VMware vCenter Server 5.0.x
VMware vCenter Server 5.5.x
VMware vCenter Server 4.0.x

Cause

This issue occurs when the SQL Server service is listening on a port other than 1433.

Resolution

To resolve this issue:

1. In vCenter Server, click Start > Run.
2. Type cmd and click OK. The command prompt opens.
3. Run this command to verify the port on which the SQL Server service is listening:
   
   netstat -anb
   
   
4. If the SQL Server service is not listening on port 1433, open SQL Server Configuration Manager and set the port to 1433. For more information, see vCenter Single Sign On fails to connect to a Microsoft SQL instance (2039092).
5. Restart the SQL Server service.
6. Restart the VMware VirtualCenter Server service.

Additional Information

If the SQL Server is separate to the vCenter Server, ensure that network connectivity exists between the two systems.
vCenter Single Sign-On fails to connect to a Microsoft SQL instance
VMware VirtualCenter Server サービスが次のエラーで起動に失敗する: vpxd logs show ODBC error: (08001) - [Microsoft][SQL Native Client]TCP Provider: Timeout error [258]
VMware VirtualCenter Server 服务无法启动并出错：vpxd 日志显示 ODBC 错误：(08001) - [Microsoft][SQL Native Client]TCP Provider: Timeout error [258]。