How to Fix Corruption on the vCenter Server Appliance

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

After a storage problems, upon rebooting the VCSA, you might encounter errors indicating file system corruption. The console may display messages suggesting manual intervention to repair the file system.

 

Environment

vCenter server with photon os

Cause

Such corruption often arises from abrupt storage interruptions or improper shutdowns, leading to inconsistencies in the file system.

 

Resolution

Step-by-Step Guide to Repair the File System:

1. Access System Logs:

   • At the console prompt, enter journalctl -xb to review system logs for detailed error disk information.

2. Identify the Corrupted Partition:

   • Within the logs, locate messages indicating which partition requires manual fsck (file system check).

3. Run fsck Manually:

   • Execute the fsck command on the identified partition.
     
      

     e2fsck /dev/disk/by-partitionuuid/your-partition-uuid

4. Address Detected Errors:

   • During the fsck process, you'll be prompted to fix errors.

5. Repeat the Check (Optional):

   • After the initial run, consider executing fsck again to ensure all errors are resolved.

6. Reboot the Appliance:

   • Once fsck completes successfully, restart the VCSA.
   • The system should now boot normally without file system errors.