Virtual machine stops running with internal monitor errors

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• A virtual machine stops running with internal monitor errors similar to:
  
  
  • We appreciate your feedback, -- the VMware ESX team.
We will respond on the basis of your support entitlement.
To collect data to submit to VMware support, run "vm-support".
If the problem is repeatable, please set 'Use Debug Monitor' to 'Yes' in the 'Misc' section of the Configure Virtual Machine Web page. Then reproduce the incident and file it according to the instructions.
Please report this problem by selecting menu item Help > VMware on the Web > Request Support, or by going to the Web page "http://vmware.com/info?id=8". Please provide us with the log file (/vmfs/volumes/<location>/vmware.log) and the core file(s) (/vmfs/volumes/<location>/vmware64-core.gz, /vmfs/volumes/<location>/vmx-zdump.001).
*** VMware ESX internal monitor error *** vcpu-0:VMM64 fault 14: src=MONITOR rip=0x0123456789 regs=0x0123456789
  
  
• The virtual machine is no longer running and has to be restarted.

Environment

VMware ESXi 4.0.x Embedded
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Embedded
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Installable
VMware ESX 4.1.x
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Installable
VMware ESX 4.0.x

Resolution

If this issue occurs again after rebooting the virtual machine, collect diagnostic information and file a support request with VMware Technical Support:

1. Collect diagnostic information, including performance snapshots. For more information, see Collecting performance snapshots using vm-support (1967).
2. Take a copy of the virtual machine.
3. Collect any other pertinent data.
   
   Note: If you can reproduce the issue and you are not already running a debug monitor, follow the steps in the error message to run a debug monitor and update your support request with this information.
   
   
4. File a support request with VMware Technical Support and note this Knowledge Base article ID (1030383) in the problem description. For more information, see Filing a Support Request in Customer Connect (2006985) or How to Submit a Support Request.

Additional Information

Collecting performance snapshots using vm-support in ESX and ESXi
How to file a Support Request in Customer Connect