Collecting logs in vCenter Server fails with the error: Cannot create a diagnostic bundle

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Collecting logs in vCenter Server fails.
• You see the error:
  
  Cannot create a diagnostic bundle
  
  
• After connecting to vCenter Server using RDP, attempting to generate the log bundle by navigating to Start > Programs > VMware > Generate a log bundle or Generate a log bundle - Extended, generates a small log file that is incomplete.
  
  
  

Environment

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

Resolution

This issue may occur if you attempt to export the system logs to the C: drive on the machine and the C: drive is full. Even if the log bundle is pointing to another drive, temporary files get placed on C: drive and may use available space. If you are generating the log bundle by navigating to Start > Programs > VMware, the log collection consumes the available space on the drive before terminating.

To resolve this issue, review the files and folders on the C: drive and delete the files and folders that are not required or archive them to a different location. Also, ensure that the recycle bin is empty.

Alternatively, you can also export the logs to a different drive or map a network drive to a location with sufficient space for the logs. The size required depends on the number of hosts you select in the bundle.

Additional Information

You can also use the cscript vc-support.wsf with the /s to redirect the logs. For more information, see Collecting diagnostic information for VMware vCenter Server 4.x, 5.x and 6.0 (1011641).Collecting diagnostic information for VMware vCenter Server 4.x, 5.x and 6.x