VMware Directory Service (vmdird) fails to start

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

VMware Directory Service (vmdird) service fails to start on the vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA). Some scenarios that could cause this are:

• An upgrade that presents issues with Partner Replication (via Enhanced Linked Mode) post-completion 
• Recovered from power outage
• Recovering from failed vCenter High Availability (VCHA)
• Recovering from backup shows error "Previous restore attempt failed"

/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 

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. Ensure the the vmdird service is stopped
   • service-control --stop vmdird
3. Execute the command to list the values
   • /opt/likewise/bin/lwregshell list_values '[HKEY_THIS_MACHINE\Services\vmdir\Parameters]'
4. Delete the entry for RestoreStatus
   • /opt/likewise/bin/lwregshell delete_value '[HKEY_THIS_MACHINE\Services\vmdir\Parameters]' RestoreStatus
5. Start the vmdird service
   • service-control --start vmdird