Core dump files "core.vherdrunner.######" are generated in /var/core/ on vCenter Server Appliance

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

 

• Core dump files named core.vherdrunner.###### are generated under the /var/core/ directory in the vCenter Server Appliance.
  
  
  
• Running the gdb command reveals that the process was terminated with a SIGQUIT signal:
  
  # gdb -c /var/core/core.vherdrunner.###### --batch
[New LWP ######]
Core was generated by `/usr/bin/python /usr/lib/applmgmt/base/bin/vherdrunner /usr/lib/applmgmt/dcui/d'.
Program terminated with signal SIGQUIT, Quit.
#0  0x0000############ in ?? ()
  
  
  
• The /var/log/vmware/messages file contains entries similar to the following:
  
  [timestamp] [hostname] systemd[1]: [email protected]: Main process exited, code=dumped, status=3/QUIT
[timestamp] [hostname] systemd[1]: [email protected]: Failed with result 'core-dump'.
[timestamp] [hostname] systemd[1]: [email protected]: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 5.
[timestamp] [hostname] systemd[1]: Stopped DCUI.
[timestamp] [hostname] systemd[1]: Started DCUI.

Cause

This issue occurs if the Ctrl + \ (SIGQUIT) key combination is pressed while using the vCenter Server Appliance console (DCUI).

Resolution

These core files can be safely removed:

rm /var/core/core.vherdrunner.######