VMware Directory Service (vmdird) fails to start after PSC recovered from backup or outage reporting Error: Previous restore attempt failed

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

VMware Directory Service (vmdird) service fails to start on Platform Service Controller (PSC) recovered from power outage
Issue is also seen post recovering from failed vCenter High Availability (VCHA)

/var/log/vmware/vmdird/vmdird-syslog.log:

YYYY-MM-DDT14:03:15.448085+00:00 info vmdird  t@140598373029632: Add Entry (cn=DSE Root)(from )(by )(via Int)(USN 2078,0)
YYYY-MM-DDT14:03:15.448142+00:00 info vmdird  t@140598373029632: VmDirKrbInit, REALM ()
YYYY-MM-DDT14:03:15.448192+00:00 info vmdird  t@140598373029632: Restore Lotus Instance.
YYYY-MM-DDT14:03:15.449967+00:00 err vmdird  t@140598373029632: _VmDirRestoreInstance: fail to get hosts from topology: 9602
YYYY-MM-DDT14:03:15.453623+00:00 info vmdird  Starting VMware Directory Servicefailed
YYYY-MM-DDT14:03:15.464732+00:00 info vmdird  t@140632888166144: VmDir State (1)
YYYY-MM-DDT14:03:15.464833+00:00 info vmdird  t@140632888166144: Lotus Vmdird: starting...
YYYY-MM-DDT14:03:15.537050+00:00 err vmdird  t@140632888166144: VmDirCheckRestoreStatus: Previous restore attempt failed. Shutting down server.
YYYY-MM-DDT14:03:15.550982+00:00 info vmdird  t@139722261583616: VmDir State (1)
YYYY-MM-DDT14:03:15.551076+00:00 info vmdird  t@139722261583616: Lotus Vmdird: starting...
YYYY-MM-DDT14:03:15.560445+00:00 err vmdird  t@139722261583616: VmDirCheckRestoreStatus: Previous restore attempt failed. Shutting down server.
YYYY-MM-DDT15:29:45.446310+00:00 info vmdird  t@140171497211648: VmDir State (1)

Note: The preceding log excerpts are only examples. Date, time, and environmental variables may vary depending on your environment

 

Environment

VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.7.x

Cause

The issue is caused as the Lotus database acquires a 'RestoreStatus' parameter to Likewise registry

Resolution

To resolve the issue, delete the restore status Key on the likewise database

1. Log in to the PSC via ssh

2. Execute the command to list the values
/opt/likewise/bin/lwregshell list_values '[HKEY_THIS_MACHINE\Services\vmdir\Parameters]'

3. Delete the entry for RestoreStatus
/opt/likewise/bin/lwregshell delete_value '[HKEY_THIS_MACHINE\Services\vmdir\Parameters]' RestoreStatus

4. Start the vmdird service
service-control --start vmdird