Determining whether the vSphere Syslog Collector service is running

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

This article provides methods for determining whether the vSphere Syslog Collector service is running.

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 5.0.x

Resolution

The vSphere Syslog Collector service could be installed with vCenter 5.0 for Windows or running in the vCenter 5.0 Virtual Appliance.

vSphere Syslog Collector Service Status on vCenter 5.0 for Windows

The vSphere Syslog Collector service for Windows can register with vCenter Server, and the service status can be checked via the vCenter Server plugin.

1. Log in to the vCenter Server using the vSphere Client.
2. Click Home.
3. Under the Administration section, click Network Syslog Collector.
4. If the Syslog Collector service is running, the server IP address, listening port, and log storage location and retention policies are listed.

The vSphere Syslog Collector runs as a regular Windows service. Check to see whether the Windows service is running:

1. Log in to the Windows server where the VMware Syslog Collector service is installed.
2. Click Start > Run.
3. Type services.msc and click OK.
4. Locate the VMware Syslog Collector service, and double-click it.
5. The VMware Syslog Collector service status is listed as either Running or Stopped.

vSphere Syslog Collector Service Status on vCenter 5.0 Virtual Appliance

The vSphere Syslog Collector service in the vCenter 5.0 Virtual Appliance does not register with vCenter Server. The service status can be checked from the Virtual Appliance web interface:

1. Open a web browser, and connect to https://vCenterServerVirtualApplianceHostnameOrIP:5480/.
2. Log in using an administrative account.
3. Click the Services tab.
4. The ESXi Syslog service status is listed as either Running or Stopped.

The vSphere Syslog Collector service status can be checked from the vCenter 5.0 Virtual Appliance console:

1. Open the console of the vCenter Server Virtual Appliance.
2. Log in using an administrative account.
3. Run the command:
   
   /etc/init.d/syslog-collector status
   
   
4. The Syslog Collector service status is listed as either Running or Not Running.