vmware-vpxd service crash with core dump "core.vpxd-worker.#######" on vCenter Server

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

1. The vmware-vpxd service crashes frequently.
2. Core dumps are generated in /var/core/ with the naming convention core.vpxd-worker.#######.
3. /var/log/vmware/vpxd/vpxd.log contains the following errors:
   
   YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss error vpxd[####][Originator@6876 sub=Memory checker] Current value ####### exceeds hard limit #######. Shutting down process. YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss panic vpxd[####] [Originator@6876 sub=Default] --> --> Panic: Memory exceeds hard limit. Panic
   
   
4. /var/log/vmware/vmon/vmon.log reports:
   
   YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss In(05) host-#### Service is dumping core. Coredump count #. CurrReq: 0

Environment

• VMware vCenter Server 7.x
• VMware vCenter Server 8.x
• External Backup solutions (e.g., Commvault, Dell NetWorker)

Cause

A backup client or monitoring tool uses deprecated vSphere APIs (such as RetrieveProperties or RetrieveContents) instead of modern paginated methods (RetrievePropertiesEx).
These deprecated calls can cause vCenter to generate massive, non-paginated responses, leading the internal Memory Checker to initiate a defensive shutdown when heap usage exceeds the configured hard limit.

Resolution

1. Permanent Fix:
   Transition the backup client to use RetrievePropertiesEx / RetrieveContentsEx. Contact the backup vendor to confirm support for these APIs in the current version of the client.
2. Workaround:
   
   Increase vpxd Heap Memory: Allocate additional memory to vmware-vpxd to handle large transient requests. See Manually increasing the heap memory on vCenter Server for instructions.
   
   OR
   
   Optimize Backup Jobs: Reduce the number of concurrent virtual machines per backup schedule to lower the memory pressure on the vmware-vpxd service.

Note: An increase in the number of backup clients can lead to memory exhaustion, potentially reintroducing the issue.

Additional Information

For further assistance, see Contact Support. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on your respective region.