Resetting the VMware vCenter Server 6.0 Inventory Service's Individual Data Providers

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

This article provides steps to reset the Individual Data Providers in the Inventory Service.

Symptoms:

• Cannot search the for objects within the vSphere Web Client or vSphere Client to the vCenter Server
• Cannot view the Inventory in the vSphere Web Client
• The hardware monitoring service on the host is not responding or is not available
• The Common Information Model (CIM) agent requires a restart on the host to update the Hardware tab

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 6.0.x
VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.0.x

Resolution

Note: Before beginning, ensure that you have a maintenance window of at least one hour to complete the procedure.

 

Introduced in vSphere 6.0, you now have the ability to reset individual providers that are stored within the Inventory Service database (xDB). This is much less intrusive as compared to vSphere 5.x in which you would need to reset the entire database. Using this method also ensures that Tags, Storage Profiles, Storage Policies, and tie-ins from vCenter Site Recovery Manager or vCloud Director stay intact.

 

After resetting providers, there may be a noticeable delay with content propagating in the vSphere Web Client as objects are synchronized. For more information, see vCenter inventory not visible in vSphere Web Client after restart (2107590).

To reset Individual Data Providers in the Inventory Service:

1. Log in to the Inventory Service Managed Object Browser (MOB) through this URL using [email protected] or a SSO administrative account:
   
   https://vCenter_Server_FQDN/invsvc/mob1
    
2. Under Methods, click the RetrieveAllProviderConfigs link.
3. In the pop-up that appears, click Invoke Method.
4. Locate the ProviderUuid of the product data provider you are looking to reset. Use the table under Additional Information section.
5. Copy the ProviderUuid's unique string and close the pop-up window.
   
   For example:
    

   product	string	vpx
   providerFeed	anyURI	http://localhost:8095/qs/atom
   providerKind	string	atom_sub
   providerMaxSize_MB	string	Unset
   providerUuid	string	6ae3bf1a-####-####-####-########6c5

   
   Note: In the example above, the ProviderUuid is 6ae3bf1a-####-####-####-########6c5.
    
6. In the original MOB window, under Methods, click on the ResetProviderContent link.
7. In the pop-up window, fill in the providerUuid previously copied in step 5 into this value box.
8. Click the Invoke Method link.

After approximately a minute, the window refreshes. If there is no error reported, the data stored for the Provider has been reset.

 

Additional Information

<u>List of Product Data Providers</u>

 

Product	ProviderUuid	Usage in vSphere
vpx	<unique string per vCenter Server instance>	This provider supplies the object cache for the vCenter Server process (VPXD) via its database (VCDB) of all Virtual Machines, Hosts, Clusters, etc. observed within the vSphere Web Client. Note: Only this provider is recommended and supported to be reset without GSS assistance.
PBM	urn:vmomi: PBMCapabilityMetadataProvider: com.vmware.storageprofile.std.1.0: com.vmware.storageprofile.std:<unique string per vCenter Server instance>	This provider supplies the backing database for Policy Based Management and Placement. This database is deprecated.
PBM	SPBM	See above
PBM	Upgrade	See above
com.vmware.cis.cls	urn:cis.cls:<unique string per vCenter Server instance>	This provider supplies the store for the Content Library (CL) object cache allowing for look up of libraries from any vCenter Server when using Enhanced Linked Mode.
Tagging	default-system-scope	This provider supplies the store for all tag and category associations within the individual vCenter Servers. The tags themselves are stored in the Platform Services Controller's VMware Directory Service.
HardwareHealth	vpxd-extension	This provider supplies the cache on Hardware Health (via CIM) from the individual ESXi hosts within a vSphere environment.
SPS	<unique string per vCenter Server instance>	This provider supplies the store for the Profile-Drive Storage Management (SPS) in which all Storage Profiles are stored.

Note: Use the above examples as models to review the MOB in your environment. Do not copy and paste the above due to word-wrapping.

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