Core file creation fails with "Failed to locate memory" error when using the vmss2core tool

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• When using the vmss2core tool, the operation may fail with the following Error Message:
  Failed to locate memory. Memory block and no separate .vmem file supplied.
• The error occurs even though both .vmss and .vmem files were generated during the virtual machine suspension.

Environment

vSphere 8.0

Cause

If a .vmem file is generated at the time of suspension, the tool requires specific conditions to be met:

• Both the .vmss and .vmem files must be placed in the same directory as the vmss2core tool.
• The .vmem file must be explicitly included as an argument in the command line.

Executing the tool with only the .vmss file will result in the "Failed to locate memory" error.

Resolution

To successfully create a core file, include the .vmem file as an argument when executing the command.

Execution Examples by OS:

Windows (Vista/7/10/Server 2008) 
vmss2core.exe -W ########.vmss ########.vmem

Windows (8/8.1/Server 2012/2016/2019) 
vmss2core.exe -W8 ########.vmss ########.vmem

Linux 
./vmss2core-Linux64 -N ########.vmss ########.vmem

Additional Information

For instructions on using the vmss2core tool, see the following KB article:

Converting a snapshot file to memory dump using the vmss2core tool

The core file created using this procedure is intended to be used for investigation from the perspective of the guest OS.
Note that Broadcom support may not be able to assist with analyzing the core file created using this procedure.