ESXi Host Not Sending Heartbeats

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

An ESXi host is marked as 'Not Responding' in vSphere. It is observed that the management VMK of the effected host is not sending any UDP 902 packets.

• NOTE: Verify UDP 902 Heartbeat packets are being sent using the command below. This should provide live output every time a heartbeat packet is sent.
  • pktcap-uw --vmk vmk# --capture TcpipTx --dstudpport 902 -o - | tcpdump-uw -ner-

Environment

VMware ESXi 

Cause

The VPXA service is not started

• Verify using command: 
  • /etc/init.d/vpxa status

Resolution

Start the VPXA service: 

• /etc/init.d/vpxa restart