Stopping, Starting or Restarting VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.x & above services
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Stopping, Starting or Restarting VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.x & above services

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Article ID: 344633

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Updated On:

Products

VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

This article provides step to stop, start or restart vCenter Server Appliance services.
 
For troubleshooting and maintenance purposes, it may be necessary to change the status of VMware vCenter Server Appliance services, such as VMware Virtual Center Server, VMware vSphere Web Client, or VMware Directory Service.


Environment

VMware vCenter Server Appliance 5.0
VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.7.x
VMware vCenter Server 8.0.x
VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.0.x
VMware vCenter Server 8.0
VMware vCenter Server 7.0.x

Resolution

In VMware vCenter Server 6.0 and later, VMware recommends to use the vSphere Web Client or Service Control command-line tool to stop, start, or restart vCenter Server Appliance services. This process is different from previous versions of the vCenter Server Appliance.

Process to List, Stop, Start and Restart vCenter Server Appliance services:

Listing the vCenter Server Appliance services

To list the vCenter Server Appliance services within the vSphere Web Client:

  1. Log in to the vSphere Web Client with a vCenter Single Sign-on administrator account.
  2. Navigate to Administration > Deployment > System Configuration.
  3. Click Nodes, select the vCenter Server Appliance node and click the Related Objects tab.

To list the vCenter Server Appliance services using the command-line:

  1. Log in as root through an SSH or console session on the vCenter Server Appliance.
  2. Run this command to enable the shell (Note: This command is applicable only for vCenter Server Appliance 6.0):

    shell.set --enabled true
     
  3. Run this command to launch the shell (Note: This command is applicable if you are in Appliance shell) :

    shell
     
  4. Run this to change directories to /bin:

    cd /bin
     
  5. Run this command to list the vCenter Server Appliance services:

    service-control --list
     
  6. To view the current status of the vCenter Server Appliance services, type the command:

    service-control --status
     

Starting the vCenter Server Appliance services

To start the vCenter Server Appliance service if it is was stopped using the vSphere Web Client:

  1. Log in to the vSphere Web Client with a vCenter Single Sign-on administrator account.
  2. Navigate to Administration > Deployment > System Configuration.
  3. Click Nodes, select the vCenter Server Appliance node and click the Related Objects tab.
  4. Right-click on the service you would like to start and select Start.

To start the vCenter Server Appliance service if it is was stopped using the command-line:

  1. Log in as root through an SSH or console session on the vCenter Server Appliance.
  2. Run this command to enable the shell (Note: This command is applicable only for vCenter Server Appliance 6.0):

    shell.set --enabled true
  3. Run this command to launch the shell (Note: This command is applicable if you are in Appliance shell):

    shell
  4. Run this command to change directories to /bin:

    cd /bin
     
  5. Run this command to list the vCenter Server Appliance services:

    service-control --list
     
  6. Run this command to start a specific service:

    service-control --start servicename
     
  7. You may also start all services by typing the command:

    service-control --start --all
     
  8. To perform a dry run of the command, add the option --dry-run to the command. This will display what actions the command will run without executing the actions. For example, type the command:
Note: This step is valid for vCSA 6.0 only.

service-control --start --all --dry-run

Stopping the vCenter Server Appliance services

To stop a vCenter Server Appliance service if it was started using the vSphere Web Client:

  1. Log in to the vSphere Web Client with a vCenter Single Sign-on administrator account.
  2. Navigate to Administration > Deployment > System Configuration.
  3. Click Nodes, select the vCenter Server Appliance node and click the Related Objects tab.
  4. Right-click on the service you would like to stop and select Stop.

To stop the vCenter Server Appliance service if it is was started using the command-line:

  1. Log in as root through an SSH or console session on the vCenter Server Appliance.
  2. Run this command to enable the shell (Note: This command is applicable only for vCenter Server Appliance 6.0):

    shell.set --enabled true
  3. Run this command to launch the shell (Note: This command is applicable if you are in Appliance shell):

    shell
  4. Run this command to change directories to /bin:

    cd /bin
     
  5. Run this command to list the vCenter Server Appliance services:

    service-control --list
     
  6. Run this command to stop a specific service:

    service-control --stop servicename
     
  7. You may also stop all services by typing the command:

    service-control --stop --all
     
  8. To perform a dry run of the command, add the option --dry-run to the command. This will display what actions the command will run without executing the actions. For example, type the command:
Note: This step is valid for vCSA 6.0 only.

service-control --stop --all --dry-run

Restarting vCenter Server and/or Platform Services Controller services

To restart a vCenter Server Appliance service using the vSphere Web Client:

  1. Log in to the vSphere Web Client with a vCenter Single Sign-on administrator account.
  2. Navigate to Administration > Deployment > System Configuration.
  3. Click Nodes, select the vCenter Server Appliance node and click the Related Objects tab.
  4. Right-click on the service you want to restart and select Restart.

To restart a vCenter Server and/or Platform Services Controller service using the command-line:

  1. Log in as root through an SSH or console session on the vCenter Server Appliance.
  2. Run this command to enable the shell (Note: This command is applicable only for vCenter Server Appliance 6.0):

    shell.set --enabled true
  3. Run this command to launch the shell (Note: This command is applicable if you are in Appliance shell):

    shell
  4. Run this command to change directories to /bin:

    cd /bin
     
  5. Run this command to list the vCenter Server Appliance services:

    service-control --list
     
  6. Run this command to stop a specific service:

    service-control --stop servicename
     
  7. You may also stop all services by typing the command:

    service-control --stop --all
     
  8. Run this command to start a specific service:

    service-control --start servicename
     
  9. You may also start all services by typing the command:

    service-control --start --all



Additional Information

VMware Skyline Health Diagnostics for vSphere - FAQ

vCenter Server 7.x services:

vmware-vmon 

VMware Service Lifecycle Manager

vmonapi 

VMware Service Lifecycle Manager API

vmafdd 

VMware Authentication Framework

vmdird 

VMware Directory Service

vmcad 

VMware Certificate Service

lookupsvc 

VMware Lookup Service

vmware-sca 

VMware Service Control Agent

vmware-stsd 

VMware Security Token Service

vmware-rhttpproxy 

VMware HTTP Reverse Proxy

vmware-envoy 

VMware Envoy Proxy

vmware-netdumper 

VMware vSphere ESXi Dump Collector

vmware-vapi-endpoint 

VMware vAPI Endpoint

vmware-vpxd-svcs 

VMware vCenter-Services

vmware-perfcharts 

VMware Performance Charts

applmgmt 

VMware Appliance Management Service

vmware-statsmonitor 

VMware Appliance Monitoring Service

vmware-cis-license 

VMware License Service

vmware-vpostgres 

VMware Postgres

vmware-postgres-archiver 

VMware Postgres Archiver

vmware-vdtc 

VMware vSphere Distrubuted Tracing Collector

vmware-vpxd 

VMware vCenter Server

vmware-eam 

VMware ESX Agent Manager

vmware-vsm 

VMware vService Manager

vmware-sps 

VMware vSphere Profile-Driven Storage Service

pschealth 

VMware Platform Services Controller Health Monitor

vmware-rbd-watchdog 

VMware vSphere Auto Deploy Waiter

vmware-content-library 

VMware Content Library Service

vmware-imagebuilder 

VMware Image Builder Manager

lwsmd 

Likewise Service Manager

vmcam 

VMware vSphere Authentication Proxy

vmware-vcha 

VMware vCenter High Availability

vmware-updatemgr 

VMware Update Manager

vmware-vsan-health 

VMware VSAN Health Service

vsphere-ui 

VMware vSphere Client

vmware-hvc 

VMware Hybrid VC Service

vmware-trustmanagement 

VMware Trust Management Service

vmware-certificatemanagement 

VMware Certificate Management Service

vmware-certificateauthority 

VMware Certificate Authority Service

vmware-pod 

VMware Patching and Host Management Service

vlcm 

VMware vCenter Lifecycle API

vmware-analytics 

VMware Analytics Service

vmware-topologysvc 

VMware Topology Service

vmware-infraprofile 

VMware Infraprofile Service

wcp 

Workload Control Plane

vtsdb 

VMware vTsdb Service

vstats 

VMware vStats Service

observability 

VMware VCSA Observability Service

observability-vapi 

VMware VCSA Observability VAPI Service



vCenter Server Appliance Services:
 
Service Name Description
applmgmt VMware Appliance Management Service
vmware-cis-license VMware License Service
vmware-cm VMware Component Manager
vmware-eam VMware ESX Agent Manager
vmware-sts-idmd VMware Identity Management Service
vmware-invsvc VMware Inventory Service
vmware-mbcs VMware Message Bus Configuration Service
vmware-netdumper VMware vSphere ESXi Dump Collector
vmware-perfcharts VMware Performance Charts
vmware-rbd-watchdog VMware vSphere Auto Deploy Waiter
vmware-rhttpproxy VMware HTTP Reverse Proxy
vmware-sca VMware Service Control Agent
vmware-sps VMware vSphere Profile-Driven Storage Service
vmware-stsd VMware Security Token Service
vmware-syslog VMware Common Logging Service
vmware-syslog-health VMware Syslog Health Service
vmware-vapi-endpoint VMware vAPI Endpoint
vmware-vdcs VMware Content Library Service
vmafdd VMware Authentication Framework
vmcad VMware Certificate Service
vmdird VMware Directory Service
vmware-vpostgres VMware Postgres
vmware-vpx-workflow VMware vCenter Workflow Manager
vmware-vpxd VMware vCenter Server
vmware-vsm VMware vService Manager
vsphere-client vSphere Web Client
vmware-vws VMware System and Hardware Health Manager
vmware-vsan-health VMware vSAN Health Service
For more commands see, VMware Docs.