Exporting the vCenter system log causes the vCenter virtual machine to go into a suspended state.

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• Exporting the vCenter system logs from the vSphere Client inventory suspends the vCenter virtual machine.
• The vCenter log bundle will not be exported successfully.

Cause

This occurs when a Virtual Machine object in vCenter is selected and export the system log.

Note: This attempt will explain that the VM is entering a suspended or will get crashed.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, follow the options below:

Option 1 (from the ESXi Host UI):

1. Login to the ESXi Host UI with root credentials.
   
   
2. Right click on the suspended vCenter Virtual Machine and Power it ON.

Option 2 (from the ESXi Host CLI):

1. Login to the ESXi Host via SSH using root credentials.
   
   
2. Retrieve the vCenter VM's vmid using following command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms
   
   
3. Power OFF the vCenter VM, using following command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/power.off <vmid>
   
   
4. Power ON the vCenter VM, using following command:
   
   vim-cmd vmsvc/power.on <vmid>

Additional Information

• To retrieve the vCenter system log from the vSphere Client, select the vCenter object at the top level of the inventory and perform a system log export.
  Collecting diagnostic information for VMware vCenter Server 7.x and 8.x
• Japanese KB: https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/418313