Starting vPostgres fails after vCenter Server Appliance failure

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

After vCenter Server Appliance(VCSA) fails, you experience these symptoms:

• vPostgres database fails to start
• There are no log entries in the /storage/db/vpostgres/pg_log file
• Unable to start the database using this command:

/etc/init.d/vmware-vpostgres

Environment

VMware vCenter Server Appliance 5.5.x

Resolution

To resolve the issue, modify the postgres user shell.

To modify the postgres user shell:
 

1. Log in to the VCSA as the root user.
   
   Note: This procedure modifies the database and the password file. Take a backup of each before proceeding to enable your ability to roll back the state of these files.
    
2. Open the /etc/passwd file using vi.
    
3. Locate the postgres user shell with /bin/false entry using this command:
   
   /^postgres:
   
   You see this postgres user entry:
   
   postgres:x:1000:100::/opt/vmware/vpostgres/9.0:/bin/false
    
4. Run these commands to modify the postgres user shell from /bin/false to /bin/bash:
   
   /false
   cwbash[ESC}
   
   You see the modified postgres user entry:
   
   postgres:x:1000:100::/opt/vmware/vpostgres/9.0:/bin/bash
    
5. Write the modified file out and exit the editor.
    
6. Run this command to change the log in to postgres user:
   
   su postgres
    
7. Run this command to start the database:

/opt/vmware/vpostgres/9.0/bin/pg_ctl start -D /storage/db/vpostgres

 

If the database does not start, you may see an error similar to:

 

<YYYY-MM-DD><time>db: pid:6334 FATAL: bogus data in lock file "/tmp/.s.PGSQL.xxxx.lock": "ÊþÀÀ"</time>

 

To resolve this error, move the lock file to /tmp file and then start the database.

To move the lock file to /tmp file:

1. Run this command to create new a folder:
   
   mkdir /tmp/old
    
2. Run this command to move /tmp/.sPGSQL.xxxx.lock to /tmp/old:
   
   mv /tmp/.sPGSQL.xxxx.lock /tmp/old
    
3. Run this command to start the database:

/opt/vmware/vpostgres/9.0/bin/pg_ctl start -D /storage/db/vpostgres